They've canceled what used to be my favorite show: West Wing.Actually I haven't watched it much post-Aaron Sorkin but I loved those early years with all the snappy dialog and the fantasy presidency. One favorite fantasy involved young "Ainsley Hayes" the Republican hired to serve a Democratic White House as associate White House Counsel. She sparred with the Dems, got the office in the boiler room, and flirted with the Rob Lowe character.
"Ainsley" didn't last long but she had some memorable lines for a while there. I vaguely remember a scene in which she was walking along a street in DC debating with a rival character when she stopped and said something like:
The problem is not that you disagree about the issues.
The problem is that you don't love the people.
I remember that scene everytime our Presbytery debates Big Issues. Today we once again debated removing the constitutional restrictions on ordaining GLTB people. As it's been every time before, each side stood up to repeat the same arguments. The problem is not that we disagree about the issues. The problem is that we can be so disdainful, prickly, sarcastic, and even nasty to each other. Sometimes we draw swords right there in the open standing at a mike. Sometimes we whisper our criticisms under our breath at our seats accusing those on the Other Side of being stupid, naive, heretical, incendiary, or Not Really Christian. The problem is: we don't love the people. We don't see them with the eyes of Christ.
Call me stupid or naive or even Not Really Christian. But I don't believe it's a fantasy to expect Christians to love those with whom we disagree. Really love them. It's the only way we'll get past the Big Issues.
Those who planned today's meeting did a good job trying to make the fantasy a reality.
But it was still a fantasy.
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8 comments:
We so easily forget that the prime directive for Christians is to love.
Sometimes acknowledging the need to love our opponents brings into question our own beliefs, and when the disagreements are so strong, it's difficult to love through the fear. It's much easier to attack; it feels safer.
I loved Ainsley, too, and perhaps my favorite moment in all the West Wing is her discovery of all the main characters gathered in her terrible office, singing along to Gilbert and Sullivan. All boundaries had been broken by a realization that people matter.
I love the episode too, Songbird. Ainsley was an awesome character. I loved the episode where one of the women accused Sam of demeaning Ainsley with a comment about a sexy dress she was wearing. I totally agreed with her take on it. And when the Pres. came to her office while she was dancing in her bathrobe. That was a great episode all the way around.
What was the outcome of the meeting? I'd love to know. You can send an e-mail if you want.
Loving each other is very important but love won't change the deeply held convictions on both sides.
Sent an email to reverend mother at work w/ details.
Jan, Can I get a copy of the email with details? I missed the meeting, perhaps ironically, because I was at the bedside of a critically ill colleague with whom I disagree deeply on this very topic. Maybe it was better to be there loving each other than at the meeting?
Grace, you're right that there are deep convictions... I have many myself. Yet I think love is more than just "very important." The Great Commandment is not "You shall hold deep convictions," it is that we love God, love neighbor, love self (RevGal version).
Now, what specifically does it mean to love one another? What sort of behavior does it call for? That's the rub. I am sure that both extremes have rationalized their behavior as somehow exemplifying God's love. God only knows if they're right.
Amen, Sister. Words spoken without love, especially at gatherings of believers, make no sense. No sense.
Great post.
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