Mom taught me many things ...this being the most important. She began the good work, and He has been faithful to complete it ...thanks to Jesus, it has been completed, though the full transformation won't be until I get to Heaven. I do certainly continue to mess up, my loving wife will attest to that ...but I will not argue and attempt to justify what I know is wrong. Thanks to Dad and Mom for helping me with the beginning sense of right and wrong ...the building blocks.

I know that everyone is not raised the same.  We have different upbringing, different experiences, and are taught different things.  We can sort out the good and the bad though.  Sorting is integral ...and develops character.  Civility involves being able to respect another's opinion ...while disagreeing, yet still feeling a need to discuss the things that have a significant impact upon our lives.

It's amazing ...

That after I, in fact, hear clearly evident hate speech, others turn a deaf ear.

After I see the evidence of hatred in bold print, the same ones don't bat an eye.

Why should we feel compelled to tell the truth?

For one, it is who we are ...

Another compelling reason is, if we don't tell the truth, we are not absolved ...we are partly responsible for not exposing the lie.

More times than not, I feel like Jonah of the Bible ...

When faced with what I should do, I just don't feel like it.