Knowing When to Walk Away

I sometimes wonder why I write these posts. Often, I write them because I need a reminder of how to be a better person. Sometimes, I need this more than others, and this is one of those posts to remind me to be a better person.

We can all agree that a lot is happening politically in the world right now; this is the understatement of the century!

I find myself too often checking the news to see the latest drama. Yes, I care about politics; I vote but don't love drama. I deeply care about the people in this world, and I want some sort of peace.

But what does that look like when surrounded by people who love drama? How do we ignore the current political climate and still care about what is happening worldwide?

Last week, I found myself unfriending people on Facebook—people I have been friends with for a long time. I could not take their overly loud political views for one more second.
I could have shut down social media and snoozed them for a few weeks, but no, I suddenly wanted them out of my life. I wanted them off Facebook.

This is not really "like" me. I have a high tolerance for people's personal opinions. I usually accept that people have differences of opinion and still be friends. However, I don't normally befriend people because their morals and values differ from mine. So, what is going on? Right now, there is too much drama.

To circle back to my question, how can we ignore the current political climate and still care about what is happening in the world?

The first thing we need to do is stop engaging. We must let people say what they need to and leave it right where it is. Like my mother used to say, "Let it go in one ear and out the other."  We also need to ask ourselves if what the person is saying is racist, harmful, or just verbal nonsense. If it is genuinely hateful to another person, we must step up in the most unconfrontational way possible—not engaging but simply stating a fact. Arguing whether one politician is right over another is unproductive; it often brings out the worst in us and adds to the drama.

If we care about the world, we must stop adding to the drama. Jesus called us to bring people together, not divide them. I will try to heed these words this week, and perhaps I can find peace in this chaotic world.

Blessings,
Rev. Kim