I blew it. And I’d like to apologize. On January 6th, as the capitol was under assault, I posted what was happening in my Facebook feed. I posted while I was pissed. Never a good thing to do. We know this, right? And yet, watching what was unfolding, I was incensed. I won’t go into the reasons now because it’s not helpful, and it’s not the point. I posted my opinion because it’s America and we can. And then I blew it.

I added a comment asking that people who held a different view not post their argument in my feed. And I told them, if they did, I would unfriend them. And a few people posted their very strong opinions anyway. And I unfriended them. Because I was angry.

I already mentioned I blew it right?

If you saw that post, I’m sorry. Because I’m passionate about creating safe space for people--all people. Even the ones who don’t agree with me. Maybe especially them. And I made this space we share in social media feel unsafe.

When I realized what I’d done, I deleted the post. But the damage was done.

I’ve learned a lesson I thought I already knew. But these days, these days can make us a little crazy.

As I think about what’s happened these last months--politics, pandemic, and all--I see the dangers of duality clearly. When we live as if life is black and white, red and blue, left or right, we distance ourselves from the other. We treat the other as enemy, as problem. We forget our shared humanity, and we lose the love that binds us together as one.

Most of life is in the grey. In the nuance. In the inbetween. Most of life is lived in the both/and rather than the either/or. As humans on this planet, the things we share in any given moment are far greater than the things that would separate. But we can only find this common ground if we choose the rule of love and if we choose to listen. Listening not to agree, but to understand.

Listening is the way back to love. And love opens the way forward for us as a nation. In this way, we live the self-emptying way of Jesus. Placing the other above ourselves. Honoring those different from us. Being willing to be wrong and admit it.

Did I mention I blew it?