Exhaustion

David French gets to the heart of most things culturally and politically in a way that speak volumes to me. His free weekly comments are spot on this week as well when it comes to our nation and the Fourth of July.

He reflects on a thought from his book Divided We Fall:

It’s time for Americans to wake up to a fundamental reality: the continued unity of the United States of America cannot be guaranteed. At this moment in history, there is not a single important cultural, religious, political, or social force that is pulling Americans together more than it is pushing us apart. We cannot assume that a continent-sized, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy can remain united forever, and it will not remain united if our political class will not adapt to an increasingly diverse and divided American public.

But we have let the polar extremes dictate the rage and the conversation. Of course this has carried over to our religious discourse as well. This brings us to a third group of people and this is where French clearly gets me:

Who are these tired Americans? The polling answer from the survey is the two-thirds of our neighbors and citizens (from across the political spectrum) who are fed up with polarization, forgotten in public discourse, flexible in their views, and still believe we can find common ground.

There is more HERE.

The extremes don’t want common ground. There is no more nuance.

So… have at it.

In this, I will find my most extreme statement as a follower of Christ:

Galatians 6:14 (NIV)
14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Here I stand.