November 07, 2006> 11:39 AM
white flag I stand with a white flag in my hand today - one of neutrality. I choose neutrality. There are lots of sides one can take about one thing or another. I am not apathetic. I care and I think. And I act as I see fruitful. Now, I see no real inherent evil in taking part in the political process, in this country at least.
I do see possible problems as we connect to the world as another Kingdom, especially as it concerns those in pastoral roles. In order to be able to maintain meaningful and transformative relationships with everyone in our care, it might be advisable for us to step aside of the process and choose to be neutral on matters which will inevitably divide us from them, or them from others, as concerns things which don't call, eternally speaking, for division. Something to think about.
Now, some things call for division. Some things are worth not being neutral over. I don't believe the things in and around this world's governmental systems are among them. They shouldn't be. We have people in our little community of all stripes politically, including the a-political. There is no requirement in any direction. There is room in the Christian Tradition for different ways of looking at a lot of things. What there is not room for is this political division that the world feeds off of. Conscientiously don't vote, vote, be a member of this or that party - but do NOT allow these kinds of loyalties to interfere with our loyalty to one another as members of the same Mystical Body of Jesus. Don't do that. That should not be tolerated.
Don't be an automaton about these things. You were "brought up" this way or that and that's what you do. I'm talking about politics and government here. Some things sound and feel good and right - and they just aren't. Think about things. I've thought and so, I fly this flag. I don't fly it automatically. A good chunk of my insides don't like it, but I choose. Pax vobiscum.
November 07, 2006
> 11:39 AM
I stand with a white flag in my hand today - one of neutrality. I choose neutrality. There are lots of sides one can take about one thing or another. I am not apathetic. I care and I think. And I act as I see fruitful. Now, I see no real inherent evil in taking part in the political process, in this country at least.
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