Searching for a balance

My lived experiences, combined with a wide open soul, create in me conflicting responses to any sort of religious dialogue, especially when the conversation involves challenges to and denial of my humanity based on “truths” extracted in specious snippets from an ancient text that has been smudged by the messy hands of humans from the very beginning.

Some days I lead with an ugly side that is slick with snarky superiority and other days (most I hope) I try to engage with more thoughtful, compassionate and active listening while gently encouraging and entertaining questions and challenges.

I am truly sorry for the times that my assy rants shut down the potential for mutual growth and I’m exhausted by the times my vulnerability has left me dismissed, labeled as evil and wounded by callous, careless and closed minds.

I know I will keep ranting and I pray that I will keep listening and lifting up tender yet prodding questions that move us all closer to the Center. I hope that somewhere along the way, sometime in the future, my voice appears to have been a balance of what it means to be a flawed but deeply loving human who truly saught truth and grace in a beautiful and broken world.

I’ll keep working on it, ok?