The Terrible Decision Tree
#105
Friend,
You’re tired of losing friends.
That’s why you’re so afraid again.
The past 10 years have been rough on relationships.
We weren’t ready to realize that our friends, cousins, kids, and parents could believe that.1 How could they fall so easily into believing them?
As I heard someone say a few years ago, “It used to be, ‘I think I am right, and you are wrong.’ Now it is ‘I think I am right, and you are evil.” Our culture of polarization has disciples us into othering those people who are closest to us.
And so you and I have been forced to this terrible decision tree.
Unfriend or disconnect from certain people due to their beliefs and actions.
Pretend that you agree with them.
Agree on an uneasy and often unspoken truce to not come remotely close to discussing it.
Have a hard conversation that both of you are largely unprepared for because few of us have ever had a class “How to Have a Difficult Conversation.”
Meanwhile, because polarizing newsertainment reinforces our existing ideas the likelihood is that you and your friend or family are more locked into your positions than you were as you’ve each continued down the path of the past 10 years.
And now, just a month shy of another election, we are tired of losing friends, afraid of losing more and unequipped for the days ahead. You desire a connection that transcends controversy and polarization, but you don’t know if it’s possible. You desire meaningful and curious conversations, but imagining the terrible results is easier than the positive ones.
That’s a lot.
I want a magic wand to wave over you, but instead, I’ll offer you something even more powerful: a prayer to the living God.
God, we are tired of walking on eggshells, losing family and friends, and being either overwhelmed with the news or completely enthralled by it. We confess that we’ve retreated when we should have had courage or spoke harshly when we should have bitten our tongue. Ultimately, we are tired. We are worn out. We are hurting. We don’t want this anymore. Will you bring your peace, your shalom, your wholeness, your presence? Will you start in my heart? Will you start today? Will you turn my weariness into waiting, so that my waiting can be turned into healing?
Lord, I don’t want to live afraid anymore in a world of no good decisions, help me to see there is always the decision to turn to you.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Love,
Aaron
P.S. I just want to thank you for continuing to read these Letters to a Weary Soul. I’m in a mini-series on polarization and weariness, and I hope you find these helpful. When you read, like the post, comment, or message me, it gives me joy and encouragement. When someone new subscribes or you share this with someone, it encourages me. So thank you for your encouragement.
“That” and “them” are completely up to your interpretation.