Grace and peace...

My wonderful daughter, Carrie Jade, has a fantabulous post she called "Peace" on her blog. I recommend that you click on over there and read it, because it has some good stats and quotes, but I especially liked what she had to say:

Think about all of the things you stand against. How easy is it for you to KNOW that those things are wrong? Have you ever been immersed in that situation? How easy would it be to step into that territory? How thin is that line that have not crossed?

My hope is that this line of thought will allow you to apply grace to those who oppose your opinions. To step in their shoes - not supporting what they practice, but having compassion on them and their situation.

Have you ever met a girl who had an abortion? I have. And she is broken. My words are spoken a lot more carefully around her and I would benefit from thinking like this more often. Have you ever been friends with a gay man with a broken heart? I have. And I learned that he needs just as much love and compassion as a straight man in the same situation. Have you ever met a Muslim? I have. And she was not evil or violent. She wants the same peace I want. Have you ever talked with a homeless person. I have. And not all of them were lazy. They want out of the system just as much as we don't want to have to see it. love.

All of that is not to say that some how I have done it right. I haven't done anything at all. I just think that many are doing a great injustice to themselves by never experiencing the realities of this world. You do not have to be of the world to be in the world. Being with those who are different from me has perhaps taught me more, first hand, about what it means to love than anything else. And you don't have to go far to meet people like this. They are people you work with, go to school with, see at the mall, pass on the sidewalks...

Amen, sister.... I mean, daughter.