On a pleasant spring evening earlier this year, I was walking around my neighborhood with a heavy heart. Full of concerns about national and local governments struggling with difficult decisions and taking different and sometimes opposite approaches to addressing issues, I felt anything but peaceful. Disturbing news clips of public figures verbally attacking those who disagreed with them played in my head in a stressful loop.

I could see both sides of the issues and understand the viewpoints backing them. I also appreciated those sincerely endeavoring to find a middle ground from which to move forward. It was the tone of hate and vitriol that was so distressing.

I do my best to follow wholeheartedly Christ Jesus’ teaching to love one another, but sometimes that can be tested. I have family, friends, and neighbors whose views differ from mine, and constructive interactions with them and others are important to me. Relationships take a high priority. This requires a lot of praying. Prayer to a loving, caring, and always-present God has been my foundation for resolving relationship, financial, and health issues over many years.