Ahhhhhhh . . .

 . . . the sweet sound of relief.  the past 3 weeks of speaking is over!  i’m wiped out.  it’s not just the speaking, but trying no t to let many balls drop on my usual work and juggling stuff at home.  so this stint is over.  i sense that many different people got pushed in different kinds of ways.  i think that those who usually view our monotheistic cousins through the lens of violence were pushed to be more open, non-judgmental, and truly question where they get their information about people from.  And those who always view them through the lenses of peace and religious similarity probably were stretched to accept that there are fundamental differences, some of which have alarming consequences.  and in the end jesus said not to only love our friends, neighbors, and families, but our enemies as well.  that can be a tall order.  but the consequences if we don’t are far more alarming.  as i shared yesterday, “Blessed are the peacemakers” – that’s a lot harder than simply being peacekeepers.