More Room than We Realized

“Can we talk?” comedian Joan Rivers would say in disgust.

The answer is: not easily or well.

Mostly we pontificate, presume, and polarize.

Even when we attempt to convey an idea across culture divides as wide as the East-West, Christian-Muslim span we communicate about as clearly as this Middle Eastern protester, who apparently ran his message through an internet translator: “Florida church stop barking of your pop.”

To communicate and to start the journey that will heal our divisions requires an ocean-deep commitment, along with a heaven-high amount of patience.  And more. Transformation of hearts and hurts only comes from God.  Or G-d, as my Jewish friend writes.

I’m thinking it won’t happen before Saturday.

But I do hold out hope that Holy Love reveals inventive ways to bring good from bad for those with eyes to see.  Against the present backdrop of ugliness there is a groundswell of awakening to the reality that there is room in America, and who knows-- maybe even in God’s heart, for more than one expression of devotion to the Mystery that permeates this beautiful creation.