I’ve done a lot of talking and typing lately that I don’t normally do. I’ve gotten into internet scraps and blown pretty hard at some people over issues that mean a lot to me.
When it comes to making decisions, I have two filters. I have my James 3:17 filter and I have my Thor filter. The Thor filter was born the day my son was, and I looked at him and thought, “I am going to do my best to make this world a better place for you, starting with me.”
My ultimate litmus test is this: If this were happening to my son, what would I do? I work from there.
I believe we all want the best for our children. Our troubles begin when we think the best for our children has to be at the expense of someone else’s child. Our troubles end when we look at other children and ask ourselves how we can make the world better for all of them.
I want my son to grow up in a world where people work together to see that everyone has enough. Where, to paraphrase Louis CK, we are all making sure our neighbor’s bowls are full.
I want my son to grow up in a world where you are free to love any consenting adult, who would like to love you back. I want my son to grow up in a world where you can be any color, or gender, and be the leader of our nation–without people calling you by racial epithets, or genitalia slang.
I want my son to grow up feeling free to worship as he chooses, knowing that if the next guy prays differently, he is no more, or less good, moral, or human than my son. I want my son to grow up with an open mind, an open heart, and a solid understanding of when to close both of those functions against bigotry, racism, and unkindness. I want him to stand tall with compassion and empathy, and carry a big stick of intolerance for cruelty.
The world is a scary place, full of anger, and hatred, and abuse. It is full of people willing to oppress, degrade, and dehumanize others for power and financial gain. I want my son to stand against that.
So, I have to stand against that, not just agree to disagree with it.
I don’t have any power, or prestige going for me. All I have is my voice and my ability to type really fast. But that’s why I post about religion and politics. I’m trying to stand against a tide, hoping my toehold will make my son’s footprint deeper, so he can raise the next generation to do even better for humanity. It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got, and shame on me if I don’t use it.
The Outside Lane 