Love Always

My heart is heavy today. I hurt for a friend of mine that I love. I'm confused as to why people take pleasure in offending one another. Does it make them feel superior? Probably. Does it make them superior? No.
I've made some great friends in blogland. I look over my favorites list and see very few that I haven't exchanged personal correspondence with. Am I like minded with them, no, not many. A few maybe. Do I love them, definitely.
I don't understand the need to offend. When I go to read some of my favorites, sometimes (depending on the subject matter) I have to pass. There are places I don't want to go in my head. There are thoughts I don't want to entertain. There are pictures posted sometimes that I don't need to see. That is my choice. I don't feel the need to come against them, to hurl insults at them...or to offend them. No one in this world is the same as I am and I don't expect them to be.
We all have our contributions to make. I appreciate those contributions of others. I appreciate the love expressed, the humor expressed and the subjects written about that make me think. Clay is (and has been since I started blogging) one of my favorite people. He's an intelligent and open human being. He's also a young, black, gay New Yorker. I have little in common with Clay, my being an older, white, straight Texan. Regardless, I love Clay. He's an amazing writer, he challenges me as a human being and he has educated me. Do I feel the need to turn him into me? No, of course not. The world already has a Kathi McIntire Bratcher, it doesn't need two. It needs its Clay's of the world. I am grateful for our differences. How interesting would a puzzle be if it were a solid color with no distinction between the pieces? How interesting would music be if every song had the same melody?

On another note and completely separate topic, please visit Anne today and help support her cause. I love you all.