‘A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger,’ the Bible tells us. This would be contrary to human nature and to our current political environment. The rhetoric of politicians seems to have no basement. Referring to each other and the other political party in the most demeaning of terms and words… is considered strong Christianity in some circles. It appears that we have divided ourselves into little encampments of folks who look like us and think like us and worship like us…and have decided to shun and punish those who are different than us.

Punishing seems to be the new normal. Let us get them before they get us. We are God’s elect and the rest are but chaff on the threshing floor that the wind blows away. That seems comforting to the narrow mind and closed heart until some of that Chaff reaches out a hand of assistance to us when our Tribe forgot us.

As we see others who are different than us…often we are looking at them from the wrong end of the binoculars. From our obstructed view we see those whom we do not know as very small and obscure. When we turn the binoculars around the family that we see is enhanced and large and the twinkle in their eyes and the smiles on their faces are in High definition.

Critical or Compassionate…that is the choice. Mean thoughts are easy to think…they often come naturally. Good thoughts and loving ideas are a daily practice of the heart…