Can't we just be friends?

Thank God the election season is over. Why am I so negative about it? I don't think this election cycle was any more or less volatile than any other in recent memory. Here in Nevada there was a particularly nasty fight for senate which was very similar to the one in Minnesota between Norm Coleman and Al Franken four years ago. I can say that by the end of August and into September I was already tired of it, I just wanted all the TV ads and social media  rhetoric to go away.

Don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-government hermit. I do have opinions and I do care about who our elected leaders will be. I also have thoughts and concerns around ballot initiatives, these are usually topics that stir up great passion and debate on both sides of the issue. I think the ability to openly express that passion and debate these issues are things that make this country great. So why am I so negative?

Social Media.... Facebook... Twitter... blogs (I know, the pot calling the kettle black). I don't think I even had a Facebook page four years ago. If I did it was brand new and I didn't have any idea what to do with it, what it was for, or why I needed it. Now I check it every day, comment on posts, update my status (I'm not sure why because my life is pretty boring), post pictures, keep up with my friends in Minnesota etc. Even my mom is on Facebook. It has also created an unending forum for people to express their opinions... ooooohhh there's the rub. Would I rather see their vacation pictures than read their opinion on a school board referendum? Would I rather see where they 'checked in' and who they're with rather than who they're going to vote for?

Yes I would, and that's the root of my problem.

Jesus dined with sinners and tax collectors. I'm beginning to really struggle with this. As a professed Christian and someone who wants to live my life like Christ I need to make some serious progress here. In Jesus' day sinners and tax collectors were the dregs of society, yet he openly embraced these people. I know there is a much deeper theological point, but I want to keep the comparison here; he willingly associated with people that did not hold his values and most likely disagreed with him and what he was doing.

If Christ can do that, why can't I put up with a some political commentary on Facebook? Shouldn't I be willing to embrace the idea that the conversation is good whether I agree with it or not? I should be ashamed that I thought about 'unfriending' some people because of this. Isn't that stupid? Thankfully I didn't. Maybe someday I should put my opinions out there so I can engage in the conversation too.

I'm not ready to do that yet, but I'm working on it.