Maintaining the Peace

I over-slept this morning. I've decided I don't need an alarm and usually don't. Well, this morning I should have used one because I dozed 45 minutes too long. I raced off to my breakfast meeting and found that instead of being the first one there as I have been the last 20 years, I was the last. Had to squeeze in among the eight other breakfasters and when they looked quizzically my way I was ready.

"I decided to take a different view of the world," I explained. "this morning I even think we ought to repeal the 'health care' bill." Everyone burst out laughing. I guess coming from me that was a ridiculous streatch. I heard my friend beside me murmur, "I didn't think I would bring that up today."
He didn't and noone else did eather and we talked about real estate prices, NCAA playoff games, and the current trend to build smaller homes. It was a pleasant conversation with some good jokes thrown in for good measure.

You see, we've tried talking about politics and while noone has gotten hurt that I know of, it just seems safer to stick to non-controversial issues--the stuff we all either agree on or are not very deeply invested in. And, I suspect that as the rehetoric has heated up on the national level and in the media that we feel less comfortable identifying with one side or the other.

Of course, we know where everyone stands. I don't think I have pushed my views very hard but apparently what I think just comes through. Thus everyone thought it was out of character for me to even mention repealing the health care bill. We all respect each other for whatever view we hold and are ready to just let it be that way.

The reason I find this avoidance of issues acceptable is that in the matter of national politics what we individually hold doesn't really make any difference. If we were dealing with an issue with our life together in the church then I would find avoiding conversation unacceptable.

We will continue our Friday morning fellowship at breakfast in good spirits and even informative conversation some times even raising theological issues. Perhaps one of our more argumentive members will dare to voice a political opinion but I doubt that we will pursue it long nor in depth. And I am sure that in the mix there will be a joke or two to defuse the angst. Thus we will be a gathering of peacful people enjoying what each one brings and leaving the dead to bury their dead.