Thursday, May 01, 2008

Choose Civility

I've posted about these bumper stickers people around here have on their cars. Just the other day I was at church picking up some things and found a postcard in T's box. It was advertising a Choose Civility event, so without reading it (but snickering to myself) I brought it home for T as a joke. When he saw it, I'm laughing just thinking about this, he said, "WHAT is that junk???" Then he looked a little closer and said, "Oh, my gosh, it's at our church!" Well, that did it for me. I was completely mortified. Here's the ad for it:

Choose Civility Symposium: Civility Begins with Me
May 14, 2008

Howard County Library invites you to a Choose Civility Symposium, featuring keynote speaker Joe Ehrmann. Former Baltimore Colts defensive lineman and co-founder of Building Men and Women for Others, Ehrmann will emphasize how empathy, integrity, and relationships are more important than anything else in life. Grace Community Church in Fulton, 8am to 12noon, www.hclibrary.org/choosecivility

For real, "more important than anything else in life."?? I thought we believed there was one thing more important than anything else in life... and it wasn't choosing civility. I'm completely... well, you fill in the blank.

7 comments:

Kathryn said...

I really have no idea what sort of organization that is. But, 'choosing civility' doesn't sound like a half bad idea!

Is it along the lines of the practice 'as you do unto the least of these?'

deanna said...

I really have no idea, but I can definitely say that it isn't working around here, whatever it is!!

I just think at a church you maybe shouldn't be promoting something as the most important thing in life if it's not faith... just my own opinion!

Kathryn said...

Ah, but isn't how we treat others the outward expression of our inner faith? :-)

deanna said...

It is, but what is the most important thing in life?

Kathryn said...

My opinion is that it's one's relationship to the Divine, which encompasses our relationship with others.

How this all is expressed, however,would differ based upon individuals. We use different labels and linguistics...but oh I find language so limited!

deanna said...

I think the most important thing in life is our relationship with God. From THAT, stems these practices. Hence, my disagreement with the premise of this choose civility thing. I say, Choose Christ.

deanna said...

Not that it's wrong to choose civility, just do it at the library! =) I guess the fact that this is at our church makes it look like we agree with this as being the most important thing in life. Personally, I'm kind of embarrassed that it's giving the wrong impression.