Separating from a spouse or partner or friend or from a religious affiliation or from a political party after years of commitment, membership and registration can be earth shatteringly hard to manage. To people, even friends and family, who watch the process of separation someone else is experiencing, the change may not seem to be such a big deal.  It is a big deal. To some extent people are known by their associations, so a radical change in affiliations sends ripples out through families and communities.

Some changes take more courage than a person can muster to make them happen, to go through with the process, to take the step; so sticking it out, leaving things the way they’ve always been may seem tolerable.  Sometimes when irreconcilable differences in personal relationships are just barely tolerable, status quo must be maintained for financial or social reasons.  

In politics and religion irreconcilable differences quickly become intolerable. A longtime valued intelligent friend who happens to be Republican told me in a quiet conversation this morning that that he is embarrassed to be identified politically with Rush Limbaugh, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz.  He likes John McCain and Lindsay Graham.  He confided that he thinks the vote by Republicans in the House of Representatives to sue the President for not doing his job is totally without merit and that it is a particularly illogical move because the House of Representatives with its Republican majority has not attempted to get the people’s business done for the six years Barack Obama has been President. He also quietly confided that he couldn’t possibly become a Democrat because the people in his family have always been Republicans. He said, “It’s who we are.” He asked me if I am ever embarrassed by Democrats.  I didn’t have to make a list for him.  With a shrug I said the name Bob Filner. He said, “I see what you mean.”  

Friends help each other keep things in perspective.  My Oregon friend Jerome Garger sent me a reminder today that the earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Take a look at the video.  You’ll see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/v/923jxZY2NPI