TOLERANCE IS HARD WORK

Indeed it is. I belong to a fellowship who state on our weekly bulletin that we are; a safe place for all people to worship regardless of race, creed, gender, cultural background, or sexual orientation. We pay, I believe, only superficial regard to that statement. Tolerance is somewhat absent, unfortunately, as various people, me included, push our own barrows. There is an Island congregation attached to our Church Community and their beliefs lean heavily towards the conservative. So do mine, being the Creationist that I am. Mind you, I came to the Creationist point of view via many roads that had me a radical progressive for many years. Unlike Paul, I was not confronted with a burning bush, but several unexplained matters from the Progressive point of view caused me to revise what I believed. However, getting back to where I was. While there is a conservative bent to many in the congregation, there is also a strong progressive presence. They acknowledge Jesus but have problems with God and the afterlife. Consequently, depending upon who is leading the service on any particular Sunday, the message can range over quite a wide field. Actually I like that. New points of view open up, and interesting points emerge. What I dislike is the disregard many of the opposing factions have for the others point of view. I appreciate the progressive point because I regard them at a different stage on a road that will lead us to God. Hopefully they believe the same of me. Sometimes, however, tolerance can be hard work when either they, them or us believe our road is the only road. I often use the analogy that if we set out from our home towns to go to a certain destination then we will possible all take different routes to get there. Some will fly directly, some will go by car and stop off at various points, some will do some work on the way. Some might encounter mechanical or health problems that will delay them. Eventually, those committed enough, will get to their destination. Hopefully, on their journey, they will pause to help those who are standing looking at the signposts at an intersection, or need assistance to get their car going. Hopefully they will be tolerant of others problems and ways of doing things and find that tolerance need not be hard work.