RE: [TruthTalk] American Indians

[ShieldsFamily]

Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] American Indians   Do you remember which observation of mine you deemed to most perceptive I'd made on TT (something like 'only those who really 'get it do it')?  Keep that in mind vis a vis yourself and David Miller. You've both shared from your lives. David's activities this weekend are indicative of a life being lived in the Spirit. You also.   Linda (and David):IMO it is the admixture of political ideaology, rationalist philosophy, closed vs open-structured thinking, a harshness on some matters that is unbecoming and, not reflective of 'the Father Heart of God', sometimes more than a hint of dualism (a Greek vs Hebraic 'seeing' of God's Creation) that precipitates, even exacerbates a confrontational response from me.(Some others have, can and, will speak for themselves. They may wish to diagree with what I say here)   Again, what little I read from you (both) of your lives would lead me to thank God for you (both). It is what you say and, the way that you say it ON SOME OCCASIONS, IMO inconsistent with your lives..Clear? Not clear? I'm not asking for you (both) to agree. I'm asking if ON OCCASION you see how you are so perceived?     Lance, you openness is appreciated.  I can only speak for myself.  (David and I are actually quite different, but you only see the TT side of us, and seem to think we are very much alike.) But as for how people perceive me, yes, I DO realize that I am more than irritating to some folks.  The unfortunate thing (for you) is that this doesn’t really bother me. To me it is much more important to “get it and do it” than to be popular. It is more important to speak the truth (which is necessarily going to offend someone somewhere) than it is to compromise for the sake of the god of “relationships”.  I have a clear understanding of what is right and wrong (for me at least) and I’m not one to vacillate once I’ve carefully thought things through and made up my mind. However, I am always on the lookout for new and valuable truths, or refinements upon current truths, that I can incorporate into my paradigm of life. That’s one reason I enjoy TT so much. Even more than than the people I get to know here, I love the opportunity to test and refine my belief system.  The people who come off as hateful and against all that I love and believe do not offer me any new ideas, but they do help confirm the value of what I already know and believe to be true. Perhaps that is where you find me most frustrating.    So you don’t like the perceived “harshness”.  Hummm. What do you suggest? Perhaps a class in tactfulness? Back to charm school? I guess, as I have admitted, I am rabidly loyal—which sometimes requires digging in and fighting. My “dualism” bothers you? I’m not even sure of what that means. Perhaps you can help me out here.   You, Lance, are at times just as frustrating to me as I probably am to you.  But you seem to be the most kind and least easily offended person in your “camp” so to speak.  You also have a delightful sense of humor, and seem unthreatened enough by those of opposing philosophies to reach out a hand of friendship. For this I am grateful, as you have been a joy to know. (And I have no idea if this helps you at all.) J Izzy