the internet is cool. for the fun of it, i just googled the title of this week's podcast. and a whole bunch of stuff came up - lots of christian missionary sites, some political books, the lyrics to a dashboard confessional song... some things i expected, some i didn't, and some i had no idea existed 'till now. and it's funny, cuz as opposite as some of these things may appear (and are) on the surface, there's also a real sense in which most of them bear the meaning i intended. in their own way. admittedly, it's often the mirror image of how i might think politically, or what i'd choose to do or say, or where i think the emphasis should be. true enough. and my first reaction is usually to judge and distance myself, and remind myself (and others) of those differences. but then, sometimes - i stop. and i think maybe it's ok. maybe somebody needs to put emphasis in the areas i neglect? maybe there's something i need to learn about the other side? as thoughtful and right as i like to think i am on any of these issues, this seems even more true.

so - as i was wandering around the other "good fight" products out there, i couldn't help but notice that the people who created those sites, and work for those missionary groups, and wrote those songs and books, were probably inspired by something (a feeling? an idea?) very similar to my own tonight. and i also bet they experience the same sense of struggle over trying to be better, and get closer to the truth, and do the right thing. they come to different answers, yes. but the underlying motivation connects us. and that - to me - feels like a big starting place for understanding. obviously, there are lots of people who disagree with all this, call it pollyannish, etc. so, maybe i'm just naive? or wrong? could be. given the complexity of human motivation and psychology, seems there's a better than decent chance i am. fair enough. but i guess this is where faith comes in? cuz i need connection to be possible. and i want it. and since i have to live in the world never knowing or understanding completely, i wanna err on the side of common ground. and i wanna hope for understanding. and live like it's possible.

when i talk about "fighting the good fight of faith" in my own life - this is pretty much what i mean. cuz i do believe we can make something better here. just us. by listening. it's never simple or easy, but it does happen when we're willing to stand up, tell the truth that's going on for us, really listen when others hear and feel what we're saying differently than we intend, and see the truth of the opposite perception. i don't know how it happens. or what makes it happen when it happens. it's hard as hell. confusing. scary. and it takes faith. but it does happen. even on a lazy wednesday evening, surfing google...

so, long ramble, just to say that tonight's podcast is here. i hope you can take a listen, and that you'll visit and learn more about the artists and links i mentioned...

julius caesar - myspace.com/thekoedonarmada
tom mcshane - myspace.com/tommcshane
penny distribution - www.pennydistribution.com
ryan sharp & the cobalt season - thecobaltseason.com

early 20th century (not 19th as i misspoke on the podcast)
poet rainer maria rilke's book on love and other difficulties.

love,
russell