I have not written in a while. It could be that I have not done my duties. But in reality I have been battling cellulitis once more and just not felt up to it. And there have been too many stories one could have written about - the President getting COVID, the rising number of cases here in Alberta and in Canada, the pope yesterday saying that same sex couples deserved the right to live in relationship- the fight over lobster rights on the east coast. I may write about some of these things later. But today I wanted to write about something positive.
Good news often seems at a premium. No one wants to share it. Our newscasts always reserve it for "and now for something completely different" section of the newscast.
But I heard something yesterday that made me smile. We all know that an election is happening right now in the US. For months, we have watched as candidates have yelled at one another over this issue and that. Our news has also been filled with angry protestors- armed men storming state capitals, black lives matter folks yelling at pro racist demonstrators back and forth, those who are masked against those who refuse to wear a mask. Yelling has become an ever present of our lives.
But yesterday, I read something that made my heart sing. Utah is having a race for governor right now. Spencer Cox the Republican is running against Chris Peterson the Democrat. Rather then trying to tear each other down, rather than yelling and screaming at one another, the two men decided to issue a joint television commercial together. Cox and Peterson said that they did not agree with one another on all things. There are definite things that separate Cox's policies from Peterson's policies. Yet despite their differences, they could talk civilly. They could remain friends. They knew that they could retain respect for each other despite being in a campaign battle.
What a difference. I can't imagine Joe Biden and Donald Trump being friends. Something tells me that after debating in Ottawa, Justin Trudeau and Erin O'Toole don't go out and share a beer and talk about their families. It is said really. People don't see beyond the issues to the person. But I think we are called to look at the person as well. May we learn from the example in Utah. Together we can do so much more than we can apart. Blessings.
