a safe place

I've been out and about lately having opportunity to see good friends and loved ones. After such a long winter, it is good for my soul to feel the connections. What I'm experiencing though is there is a division between people who are quick to voice opinions on current events, and those of us who keep silent. It's a dangerous dance.

To be silent can be misinterpreted as agreement. And yet, to truly say what's on my mind sets up a trap for disagreement. I don't like confrontation. And I don't like to focus on what makes us different.

Especially when the topics are volatile and emotionally charged. There are just too many loose adjectives that are being used to describe people with a difference of opinion. When did name calling become so fashionable?

I was reminded of the movie Bowfinger when Eddie Murphy is the errand boy and has to run across multiple lanes of LA traffic to get the scene. He's told it's 'safe' and encouraged by the team, "you can do it". But the truth is, he is totally at risk of being run down by the traffic.

That's how it feels to have a conversation about anything that is current, political, spiritual, sexual, financial, or any number of issues that are relevant to our country and culture.








Where is the safe place for conversation? When is it ok to have vastly different opinions and still listen to the other person without feeling threatened or angry? Is it possible to imagine that even those we don't agree with may have insight or understanding that we don't have? Can we stand in our beliefs without engaging in a battle?
Can our silence be a powerful force in the mission for love and peace?