Respect and empathy

Last night our game ended with a conundrum. The umpires gathered to discuss what needed to take place. We had lost, but there was reason to believe that the run should not count and we should continue play with a tie. It was late and the next game was already behind schedule; so the parents of that team were anxious to start. One of their moms told some of our moms "just say you lost and go, so we can get started."

Our moms thought that was a very bad idea.

Perspective and personal investment shape our attitudes. I understand why someone else would say 'get it going' because they were going to be up late. I understand why we were more than willing to play longer, we wanted to win (and we were not going to be there as late as the other folks). We each had a different perspective. My son was due up next, perhaps he would have delivered and been the star. That is a motivation for me. It isn't for those other parents. So the world turns....

It is hard to really determine what is the right thing to do sometimes. If we had had the call go our way it is possible we would have taken another twenty minutes to finish our game, maybe more. There would have been many people who had to play later because their games are after ours. Some folks would say, "that's baseball," others would recall the many times we played late (or very early). Some would have no thought about how it impacted others. Some would be aware of it.

In the many conflicts in our world, within families and amongst people and nations, it is clear that our different perspectives really generate much of the problem. So do our different values and beliefs. I believe that battles are an inescapable part of life after "The Fall." Sin is real. So is evil. Even good people have evil in them.

We prefer to shout our slogans and project our feelings. Measured thinking and rational discussion, even debate, are too hard. Seeing other sides to an argument is too much work. In the end, in many cases, the discussion does not move anything along, we still disagree. Talking can not solve everything.

Easter is a reminder that Life has conquered Death. It is a timely reminder in this season of tornado tragedy. It is also a source of hope in the midst of worldwide crisis and destructive wars. Humans can not and will not solve the problems which tear us apart. We need to pray for the coming of the Lord. We need deliverance and we need salvation. We can try to be open, empathetic and respectful. We can try, but we will always fall short of perfect reconciliation. I think our efforts are worth it, but I also know there is need for Someone Else to save us. Some would say that the need itself is proof that He is: 'contingency' coupled with a deeply felt feeling that things can be different. How does this world produce such insights if this world is simply a machine?