hairspray

in november, brendan and i were talking over dinner. i don't remember what we were eating, but i remember what we were talking about. we were having a debate of sorts. we were talking faith, and purpose, the future, and the present. it wasn't an argument, but i remember brendan getting up from the table in exasperation, standing in the kitchen slightly raising his voice and arms in the air. this made an impression on me. not the discomfort of working thru different beliefs and opinions, not our posture or what we were eating. i remember this dinner together because it was a turning point for me. my understanding of faith, my perception of suffering, my feelings about the future, all changed because we took the time to talk about a hard topic.

they say in polite society that one is not to discuss politics or religion... but i'm going to anyways. when it's done lovely and respecfully it can benefit others and myself a great deal. i'm glad for the times that i've been exposed to new information and new concepts through conversation. i don't want to enter the arena to coax or convince anyone, but challenges benefit us all immensely. it's too easy for us to ignore hot topics unless they impact us directly. so i'm taking the flame out into the open. this leaves me open to personal attack, vulnerable to the unkindness of others. but i'm hopeful that even their negative feedback will start them thinking in new and honest ways.

being intellectually provoked is good for my mental agility. i want to be provoking too. i'm not ok with maintaining the status quo, so i guess that means that change has to start with me.

 

watching capitalism gun down democracy,
it had this funny effect on me
i guess.