I’d like to thank you for your kindness.
Yesterday I posted a transparent yet self-indulgent narrative about the many insecurities of being criticized for our views (mine) and requesting you kindly refrain from responding, unless it was in the form of an amen, a compliment, or twenty dollars.
There are three guys who have it made. Radio guys, drummers, and baseball players. I’m blessed to have two out of three, and I’m working on the trifecta.
But I am basically a ground-dweller.
God’s grace is why I have anything. On my own, I’m selfish and lazy. That manifests itself in multiple forms, but they all boil down to selfish and lazy.
If I have an opportunity to criticize, I’m tempted to do it. I’m attracted to it like tweens to Taylor Swift. Nobody likes being that person. But we can’t help ourselves.
It’s everywhere. We’re particularly prone to snipping at people at the top. George Harrison it said when the Beatles’ movie Magical Mystery Tour bombed. Once someone reaches their pinnacle, there’s no place to go but down. “They all had their day tearing us apart.”
Humans take shots at successful people. The Beatles. The president. The boss. Even Jesus. (ESPECIALLY Jesus.) What makes us do that? Flip Wilson would say “The devil made me do it.” (If you’ve been waiting for a token boomer reference, there you go. People love to besmirch boomers.)
I’m nowhere near the top. But I’ve been a target, and it’s painful. I’m okay, as in there was no gun-play. But my ego stings from lambasting. It’s probably painful for you, too. I have to remind myself daily, no, hourly. Treat others as I want to be treated.
By the way, you look MAH-velous.
There are plenty of opinions. Let’s share them, but walk away if we hear one we don’t like. You may think, “But we have to speak up!”
I’m sure somebody will.
For now, we have enough debates to last at least until the end of baseball season. And that’s a long time. So, baby steps. Let’s give it a rest, just for today. Let’s be the weird ones. Let’s go out of our way to be nice, or at least pause before we speak.
So thank you. Thank you for indulging me. Thank you for loving others as you love yourself. Thank you for your generous hospitality and handling me with kid gloves.
(What does that even mean?)