As I sit here and look at all of the various social media sites I belong to as well as reading for my three religion classes this semester, I find myself getting more and more frustrated.  To spare you all from my ranting, I will sum it up with this:

Church is not about numbers.  Church is not about salvation.  Church is not about famous speakers or worship leaders.  Church is about love. God is about love. God is love.  And as the Church, we are called to love. Whether it be one or one thousand people.  Love. Period.

Recently, I have been consumed with the idea of tolerance; accepting everyone for who he or she is, regardless of what he or she believes in, stands for, looks like, etc. In feeling these feelings, I have become very frustrated with those who are not tolerant, those who single certain people or groups out for who they are or what they believe in.  I have experienced these “intolerant” people both personally and through observation of films, documentaries, and news articles.  I have been trying to figure out why we cannot all love each other, no matter what, and continue to get more and more frustrated with those who are wrongfully judging others.

And then tonight, I realized something. 

I am not being tolerant. I am judging those who judge others, thus making me just as bad as they are.  I have been so consumed with being angry at those who are not tolerant that I haven’t just stopped to take a minute and just love people.  

I will not push my beliefs on someone who does not want to hear them.  I don’t want to argue about who is right, who is wrong, who made a choice, who is living in sin, who deserves this, who doesn’t deserve that.  I’m tired of arguing. 

Jesus loved others and loves us.  He calls us to love. Period.  

Perhaps I should stop being so concerned with what other people think and instead, do something.  Make a difference.  Live by example. Live by being truly tolerant.  Live by loving.