I love humankind! It's people...
Illustration
"I love humankind! It's people I can't stand!" Lucy Van Pelt caught the insight that it is easier to love humanity when one is alone than when people are gathered together. When people work together we find that our personalities, party spirit, and opinions can get in the way of love and unity. There is a human tendency to label people, and the labels can interfere with relationships. I have a chest with little drawers that sits on my workbench. Every size nut, bolt, and screw can have its own compartment. At least that was the goal when I bought the chest. In the activity of working on a project I am more likely to throw parts in a big drawer with the assumption that some rainy day I will sort through the drawer and put each nut, bolt, and screw in its place. I do not promote sloppy spirituality or confused community, but it seems to me that it is better to toss every person in the same drawer than to go through the intensive labor of trying to sort each one into his or her own little niche and compartment. The church might not look as neat as we would like, and it will often take more effort to find just the nut we need. But think of all the other treasures that are found while looking -- a 1953 nickel, a John Anderson for President campaign button, and matches from last year's vacation.
-- Olson
-- Olson
