How could these two people ever be friends?
| Person A | Person 1 |
| Female | Female |
| Liberal, Gay Marriage, Social Justice Christian | Fundamentalist Christian |
| Democrat | Republican |
| NPR listener | Fox News watcher |
| PC computer user | Apple computer person |
| Flexible planner | Routine maker |
| Home is functional but never spotless | House is spotless at all times |
| Multiple pet owner | Dislikes pets – they are messy |
| Rarely wears makeup | Always wears makeup |
| Occasionally gets manicures | Nails always done |
| Thinks some tattoos are tasteful | Thinks all tattoos are shameful |
| Loves Person @ | Loves Person @ |
And that last line is the problem. Person @ is in the middle of these two people, with loyalties torn. If it weren't for Person @, Person A and Person 1 would never need to have anything to do with one another.
Any ideas?
3 comments:
All of those things you list are layers that people place upon themselves, to identify with a certain group. ethnicity, belief system etc. They are like clothes you wear to cover your body. These are like layers of clothing to cover the real being. The "real" you (person) is hiding underneath all of those. you could think of it this way: everyone "shows up" to everyone else in some way. For ex. you see person A as female, liberal, etc. That's how that person shows up for you. They also show up for themselves in some way (female, liberal, etc.). The big question is, who is this being (or what is this being) to whom the world, others and themselves "show up"? There is a being (for lack of a better word) to whom the world, including themselves show up. I like the analogy of a video camera, or the "clearing" in which these characters show up. Once you get that "clearing" or video camera aspect of people and yourself, there will be no need to reconcile anything bc these people will show themselves to you for who they are, which is beyond the stickers that are listed there.
What a wonderful post. I love that you are struggling with this issue instead of just writing your friend off. One of the challenges of loving others - and seeing Christ in them - is accepting them for who they are. Because it's our nature to want others to agree with us (and validate how wonderfully brilliant we really are :)) it is often difficult to sit comfortably with our differences.
I believe that the Holy Spirit is very busy working in both of you, bringing you both to a deeper understanding of what it means to be a friend, a Christian. There are many paths to God and that is a good thing. Christ gave us such a strong example of love as he deliberately associated with others who did not agree with him, who challenged him, who tested his faith (not to mention his patience). But through all his challenges - and disappointments - his response was always to love, love, love.
Hold your friend - and yourself - up in prayer. Ask God for the gift of tolerance, of patience and wisdom. Ask the Holy Spirit to be present when you feel challenged by the opposing beliefs the two of you hold. And most importantly, practice letting it be okay that you disagree and just repeat in your heart, over and over, "I love you. I love you. I love you." Your friend will feel your love and in those moments of acceptance the Holy Spirit will work miracles in both of you.
And don't forget that hung. sausage is a miracle-worker in bringing folks together.
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