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I had an experience a while ago that I think has direct and important relevance to everyone here. I have a good friend, someone I admire greatly in many, many ways, who is a wonderful, caring person – overall. She would do anything for family and friends in order to try to help them. She has had many experiences that I accept as profound, spiritual, enlightening, etc. There is SO much to love and respect about her. I love her dearly – but it’s hard for me to be around her for any extended period of time. A somewhat recent experience brought that up in my mind again.
She is a political extremist, and her extreme is on the other side of the middle from where I am politically. She will corner people and explain, in dire terms, what is coming if her political agenda is not established – if the wrong candidate is elected (in whatever election is next). The world isn’t just falling apart; the end of all we hold dear is imminent. Frankly, I believe she is over the paranoia line – and listening to her conspiracy theories is nearly unbearable for me.
I really do love her – and she really is, at heart, a kind, caring, loving, dedicated person. It’s just hard to remember that in the moment as soon as she inevitably starts on a political diatribe. It’s not worth answering her openly, especially since she doesn’t talk in church like she does privately (not being hypocritical, but understanding that church isn’t the place to discuss politics at her desired level for private conversations).
I have learned a LOT from her over the years I have known her. She’s intelligent and insightful in many ways.
My point is simple:
She’s fully human, and I can’t blame or castigate her for that. I love her ONLY because I’ve stuck around long enough to see, to some degree, the full person she is – even as I want to run away screaming quite often when she launches her soap box missles. If we weren’t members of the same church, I wouldn’t have gotten to know her as well as I do – and that would have been a shame, even as it hasn’t become easy to deal with her regularly.
I try to remember that whenever I start expecting others to be all that I would like them to be – and I try also to remember everyone who talks with me and walks away shaking their heads at my own beliefs, but who also continue to talk with me, regardless. (Cadence, does that describe you fairly well?
Wonderful message, Ray. Thank you for sharing that. Quote:“Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever”
-Moroni 7:46
Thank you Ray for posting this. It’s a good reminder for all of us. I have a negative Nellie friend who is great is many ways that pushes my buttons. Heber13 is right. It’s about charity. Now whose buttons am I pushing lately? this sounds like to me the fear-mongering that some republican supporters use to do anything and everything hoping to see that Obama will not get re-elected. i have seen that kind of mentality in other(some close to me) republican supporters saying or propagating all kinds of lies just so that Obama doesn’t get in again. it’s deplorable behaviour. that’s all i can say lol ! Sarah Palin is just one example of a public figure (i’m sure we can think of others lol) who tend to use this tactic to further the Republican agenda. not cool !
Good point Ray. I have to confess, the StayLDS site does more to breed tolerance in people’s character than any other forum or group I’ve ever associated with. In some ways, there is greater Christlike character than one would imagine from a site that has been accused of luke-warmness. BLC – I’ve certainly heard fearmongering from both parties in the US. My son was just telling me last week that Republicans want to subjugate all women’s choices and prevent them from getting access to birth control. Politics brings out the hyperbole in people. What Hawk said. I intentionally didn’t give specifics about my friend’s views specifically because I’ve heard similarly hyperbolic paranoia from people on multiple sides of the political spectrum.
I agree that everyone on this board encourages charity. I appreciate that so much. I dont doubt that it happens on both sides of the political spectrum. i was only sharing experiences i have seen in my own life. No offense intended. and in both instances were people i cared about just as in Ray’s example. (as for Sarah Palin, well, she’s not close to me but i still think she’s hot !) 😆 I know some wonderful old people who come out with really racist words! It’s embarrassing. They’re not bad people, just of another age. SamBee, sometimes I cringe at some of the things I say. Than, if I’m lucky, I appologize or restate what I really meant to say.
I hate when that happens.
Mike from Milton.
Well, Ray, I think sort of know what you’re going through. I have a good friend that is a religious extremist. He’s a devout Catholic. He’s not the violent type because being exposed to to even violent action films causes him nightmares. He’s extremely anti-abortion and anti-war. He’s mentally ill, so that has what caused much of that. I like the guy alot, but he drives me nuts with this ranting about low morals in our society. But I’ve learned to mainly listen and accept him for who he is. Mike wrote:SamBee, sometimes I cringe at some of the things I say.
Than, if I’m lucky, I appologize or restate what I really meant to say.
I hate when that happens.
Mike from Milton.
Yes it does happen, if one speaks too soon!
The internet is a minefield for that kind of thing.
Quote:Sometimes I cringe at some of the things I say.
That simple statement truly is profound – and important to admit and remember.
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