Earlier today I took offense to something someone posted here, one of the mods. We got into a bit of a spate over it. Thankfully, we were able to talk it out in private messages. The situation made me realize that we are both under pressure and stressed about various things and current events. In retrospect, I feel we both overreacted at certain points. In the end, I learned from the interaction that, while we are wise to be vigilant and on our guards, we can never afford to jump too quickly to conclusions. We are all human, and we are all under a great deal of pressure. We must shoulder our collective burdens while being gracious in disagreement. The mod in question and I thankfully did just that in the end. We don't have to agree on everything, but we have each others' backs in this fight.
The truth is, smoothing this over was easy, because we share so much in common. But we must find ways to bridge the void between us and others, as well, even deluded Democrats and Biden supporters. The divisions in society are such that our movement cannot be about domination. It needs to be about unification under our great principles. We must promote the truth and we must seek out and develop common ground. True, there are some, even many, with whom we may never find common ground. But shame on us when we simply fail to find it due to our own pride and/or exhaustion with the fight.
Let's all strive to do better. I know I will. And when I fail, please correct me with kindness and I will try to respond the same.
Remember the story of the prodigal son:
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”