No Politics. Just Pictures.

I started a post about avoiding contention, but it just didn't come out how I wanted.

So, I began to write about giving our best to others--being kind, looking for common ground, showing up for people in their suffering. But it wasn't quite right.

I wanted to write about helping others to feel seen and heard and loved, but I feel too sad about all of the divisiveness, contention, and sickness in the world, and I’m not sure of the right way to help.

There are a lot of issues to discuss lately—politics, religion, racism, immigration, health care—honestly, almost anything can turn into a debate. When I feel a discussion brewing, I suddenly remember the laundry that needs to be switched or the plants that need watering.

Lately, the kids always have clean underwear and my plants are growing like weeds.

I feel guilty about my need to disappear during these discussions because it's not like I don't have opinions to share, and I do like to be educated about relevant issues. It's just that I don't want to be a part of the contention that inevitably surfaces when one party disagrees with the other. I especially dislike when people use tactics like raised voices, insults, or a demeaning tone to silence the other party.

Though election years are always divisive, this year has been especially tense. Everybody seems to be on edge. I don't like see people attacked or belittled based on their opinions or even on their lack of opinions. I want to see more inclusiveness. More understanding. More kindness. And especially more unity.

But how?

It doesn't seem like anybody is ready to bend for fear of looking foolish or uneducated.

So, since I don’t have solutions, or really much to say besides, “Can’t we all just get along?” here's a generic family update. Life is very busy here. I'm tired. But I'm going to keep doing the work and loving others and trying to be less frustrated and more patient.

It's not all bad. Here's some good.

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That Sinking Feeling - Real Talk From Your Mother

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The Mergenthaler Family

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