I wouldn’t say that…
Those that know me best know there aren’t many things I wouldn’t say. I mean, find me at a time where I’m really mad, really scared, or really excited, and you might walk away surprised or even disappointed.
I’ve matured in a lot of ways during first 50 years of my life. I think differently, love differently, assess God and relationships differently, and I’ve even learned to embrace a different posture and pace for life.
But my sarcastic, cynical, and sometimes off color responses to life – well, maybe I’ll work on that the next 50 years…
Sometimes (really a whole bunch of times) I say things for the shock value - you know to get people’s attention; kind of like saying, “is this microphone working?”
Many times I embarrass my poor wife, Kathy, or make my kids cringe when they hear someone mistakenly set me up for a great one-liner. I can still hear my mother’s exasperated voice in my head – “MICHAEL!”
But there are some things I wouldn’t say. No, really, there are…
I wouldn’t say that… because you don’t believe like I do, you’re “lost”.
I wouldn’t say that… there’s only one way to assess truth, history, justice, beauty, or even God.
I wouldn’t say that… I’m a big Tebow fan, I actually prefer Brady and Rodgers.
I wouldn’t say that… I’m done routing for Tiger. I cheered like crazy this past Sunday (I pray he gets his whole life together, not just his game).
I wouldn’t say that… because you’re an Ohio State fan you’re going to hell, although there’s certainly a better than average chance.
I wouldn’t say that… young love is the best love, because love is best continually discovered over the years.
I wouldn’t say that… age makes you softer or tenderer towards others because I know some really narcissistic, bigoted, and just plain mean spirited senior citizens.
I wouldn’t say that… Gingrich is a good alternative to Romney, and I wouldn’t say that Romney is a good alternative to Obama (but I still wish there was one good alternative to all three…)
I wouldn’t say that… I have any faith in the US economy or any planned government intervention.
I wouldn’t say that… my assessment of the current economic environment makes me nervous, because God is my provider.
I wouldn’t say that… because it didn’t work out the way I planned that I can’t trust God.
I wouldn’t say that… because people are dying of AIDS, cancer, and all matter of disease that God doesn’t heal.
I wouldn’t say that… because sometimes friendships, marriages, and even churches fall apart that covenant is bullshit.
I wouldn’t say that… I’ve arrived already or that I know everything. I actually don’t want to arrive and I prefer questions to answers.
Lastly, I wouldn’t say that… I know exactly what the next year holds, but I bet it’ll be interesting, full of laughs and love, and maybe even a little pain…
What wouldn’t you say?
*If you haven’t yet, consider following me on Twitter @MichaelHindes where you can read more things I wouldn’t say…
