Sitting Between The Older Brother and The Younger Brother
So much of my life these days is spent sitting between liberals and conservatives, progressive Christians and evangelical Christians. I cannot possibly say that I am either, and I can't possibly say that I have neither's view of things. And so I sit and listen to both sides talking at one another, while professing to be emotionally mature people capable of remaining loving and objective about the topics at hand.
I deeply long to see a discussion break out between these two that embraces and celebrates what is essentially good in both.
I identify with liberal politics, though I am pretty far from being a card-carrying Democrat, and I live in north Alabama, a deeply red state. Almost all of my acquaintances and fellow Church members are politically conservative.
I have long ago gone on my own Abrahamic quest for a connection with God, away from my hometown and my inherited concepts about things, to find a personal connection with God and reality. And so, I will never feel comfortable joining any school of thought. I find doing that to be a betrayal of my own life.
I see value in the Progressive Christians' focus on the idea of God being love as something necessary and good for all humans. I see the respect for our fellow human experiences with God and the respect this brings to things like ritual, tradition, and sacred texts as something equally good and necessary for all humans.
I have stumbled upon your Substack and have enjoyed seeing your souls unfolding there. I especially loved the post with Gail Hanson Browne. I find myself wondering if you would like to have a thoughtful, loving conversation with someone who holds some significantly different viewpoints from yours, with the purpose of feeling more love from and more love for humans who see things differently than you.
If you think you might like to have such a discussion, let me know, and we can feel each other out to see if that would be profitable. I would like you to know that if I chose to do this, I would come to the discussion with a commitment to acknowledge my defensiveness when it gets triggered by things you are saying, and to choose not to react to those fears. With such a commitment from each of us, a very deep probing of issues should follow.
John, thank you for your comments … I relate to much of what you are saying here … the tension between political parties; between the constant binary push and pull that sometimes just strikes me as banal and sometimes strikes me as destructive. And thanks for your conversation offer … hmm, how about this … given that Tori and I have conversations scheduled out for a few months and all the other things I am doing, how about you direct message me with some of your thoughts. That’ll give me time to think through the best response. Maybe moving forward, we’ll do a written post together. Or maybe we’ll just do something privately. Either way, yes, I’d like to hear what you have to say. Thank you.
I'm downloading the sound track now and will listen soon. Can't wait! You two always have a lot of great stuff to say, and the Rev. Dr. Gayle Browne does too. I know - I've heard and recorded dozens of her sermons.
Sitting Between The Older Brother and The Younger Brother
So much of my life these days is spent sitting between liberals and conservatives, progressive Christians and evangelical Christians. I cannot possibly say that I am either, and I can't possibly say that I have neither's view of things. And so I sit and listen to both sides talking at one another, while professing to be emotionally mature people capable of remaining loving and objective about the topics at hand.
I deeply long to see a discussion break out between these two that embraces and celebrates what is essentially good in both.
I identify with liberal politics, though I am pretty far from being a card-carrying Democrat, and I live in north Alabama, a deeply red state. Almost all of my acquaintances and fellow Church members are politically conservative.
I have long ago gone on my own Abrahamic quest for a connection with God, away from my hometown and my inherited concepts about things, to find a personal connection with God and reality. And so, I will never feel comfortable joining any school of thought. I find doing that to be a betrayal of my own life.
I see value in the Progressive Christians' focus on the idea of God being love as something necessary and good for all humans. I see the respect for our fellow human experiences with God and the respect this brings to things like ritual, tradition, and sacred texts as something equally good and necessary for all humans.
I have stumbled upon your Substack and have enjoyed seeing your souls unfolding there. I especially loved the post with Gail Hanson Browne. I find myself wondering if you would like to have a thoughtful, loving conversation with someone who holds some significantly different viewpoints from yours, with the purpose of feeling more love from and more love for humans who see things differently than you.
If you think you might like to have such a discussion, let me know, and we can feel each other out to see if that would be profitable. I would like you to know that if I chose to do this, I would come to the discussion with a commitment to acknowledge my defensiveness when it gets triggered by things you are saying, and to choose not to react to those fears. With such a commitment from each of us, a very deep probing of issues should follow.
Love, your brother soul, John Brusseau.
John, thank you for your comments … I relate to much of what you are saying here … the tension between political parties; between the constant binary push and pull that sometimes just strikes me as banal and sometimes strikes me as destructive. And thanks for your conversation offer … hmm, how about this … given that Tori and I have conversations scheduled out for a few months and all the other things I am doing, how about you direct message me with some of your thoughts. That’ll give me time to think through the best response. Maybe moving forward, we’ll do a written post together. Or maybe we’ll just do something privately. Either way, yes, I’d like to hear what you have to say. Thank you.
Actually, I tried to send this to you in a message. I could not find out how to do that. Could you message me? I think we would be connected then.
you bet, just direct messaged you in the substack chat. if that doesn’t work, we can email. :)
I think email would be better for me. Here's my email. jn.brusseau@protonmail.com
Thanks, Jonathan.
Takeaways that are sticking with me today: Behold and befriend, pause, release, return. Ask questions.
Thanks, y'all.
Good takeaways
I'm downloading the sound track now and will listen soon. Can't wait! You two always have a lot of great stuff to say, and the Rev. Dr. Gayle Browne does too. I know - I've heard and recorded dozens of her sermons.
Jonathan, Tory, and Gayle,
Thank you for sharing the best truth you can too. Please also see/share our tips
https://odysee.com/@tidbitsfortruth:2?view=content
also here
https://old.bitchute.com/channel/NBu3vOs8kXFY/
It's all a science thing.
https://abrv.in/cpoK
Thank you.
🦖 👀