“People don’t think like I do.”

Tuesday morning in the coffee shop. I used to sit by myself and click away at the keyboard, collecting letters into words, words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and… well, you get the idea.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to sit with a few men and “help them out” with their discussion.  I declined, sitting by myself again to write but, thinking better of it, moved over to help them out.  (I wasn’t really helping, but it was nice to think of it like that for a few seconds, anyway.)

The opening words above were what I was greeted with as I sat down with them again on this Tuesday morning. Our conversation over the next hour and a half ranged from football to politics and from parenting to couples therapy, with a good bit of Scripture mixed in, but the first words stuck with me.

“People don’t think like I do.”

Today being a national election day, I can’t quibble with the sentiment.

They don’t think like I do.  And, I’m going to say something argumentative.

It’s perfectly okay.

Being raised in a pretty straight-laced Christian home, much of my adult life has been one eye-opening realization after another that people don’t believe everything I believe.  I once thought I needed to convince all of them.

Every. Single. One.

I don’t.  Need to, that is.

I won’t.  Succeed if I try, that is.

Today I read the words below, written by a Christian author I follow on social media.  They seem important to me.  Especially the part about the knowledge of the holy.

“Praying.  Not for a particular result, but for a knowledge of the holy.  This I know; my hope tomorrow will be just as unflinching as it is today.  Because I know where my Hope is found.”
(Michele Cushatt)

Life is too short to go to battle about non-essentials.  But, we do it.  Day after day, we do it.

There is a photo of my neighborhood with this little essay.  It’s part of this note to myself to help me remember the important things.

His important things.

The beauty of His creation surrounding us reminds me to love God.  With everything I’ve got in me.

Love God.

The houses remind me of the neighbors who live there.  To be loved like I love myself.

Love people.

My area of ministry.  Assigned by Jesus, Himself.

It won’t change because of differences in religious beliefs.  Or election results.

I apologize for talking to myself today.  You see, I’m just not sure you think like I do.

But, I love you.  I do.

Mostly, because He showed us how it’s done.

 

“The tax on being different is massive.”
(Vivienne Ming – American neuroscientist)

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  (1 John 4:7-8, NLT)

 

© Paul Phillips. He’s Taken Leave. 2024. All Rights Reserved.