Recently, Anne and I went to the Ryman to see Donny Osmond. It was a fantastic show; but the audience is always a part of the total experience. We got to our seats about 30 minutes early, and that allowed us to watch the crowd as they began to fill that historic auditorium.
Because Donny was a sensation almost 60 years ago, there were a number of older fans. Most were of the generation (my generation) that still maintains some civility; and as one might expect, most of the people there were friendly and considerate. However, there were a few who seemed as though they had failed to take into account that there would be others who might want to see the show, also.
As an example, even though somewhat to the extreme, there was a woman seated not too far from us who was wearing a huge hat. The hat looked like a white chamber pot, inverted over her head and festooned with white, fuzzy feathers, held in place by a wide band of ribbon!
I mentioned to Anne that I was glad we were not seated behind that woman. And, true to form, she did not take off that hideous adornment the entire time!
The point I want to make is that it seemed it was more important to that woman to make a (questionable) fashion statement rather than take into account her fellow viewers.
Consideration is a part of what Jesus meant when he (1) said to love our neighbor as ourself, and (2) that our neighbor could be a stranger—even one we do not respect.
The bottom line: love one another, even the stranger. It is the minimum of Christian existence.
Michael O;Bannon, Pastor