The common ground of the "human condition?"

We went to a wine and cheese party tonight. The hosts and most of the guests were - we knew - about as far politically and theologically from us as the proverbial "east is from the west."

And knowing this, to be honest, had us a bit apprehensive about the evening. I was so afraid that the dreaded subjects of sex, politics and religion would barge into our conversation and threaten friendships, that the thought of feigning sick crossed my mind more than once in the previous few days.

But, we gutted it out and staring danger in the face, showed up anyway.

And we had a smashing good time!

And listening to the discussions amongst the guests this evening, a realization came to me tonight. Despite all our obvious polarizations, red vs blue, Christian vs. not, rich vs poor, blahblahblah, we're still all pretty much in the same common lifeboat rowing to shore. We're all trying to sock as much away for retirement as we can so we can not be a burden to society and offspring as able, we're all still trying to do our jobs to the utmost of our abilities while balancing work and life pressures as much as able and we're all still trying to just get the hell by as best as we're able and so on.

Wow! How's that for realizing the common ground of the human condition?

Good job, Mike and LeeAnn for hosting a very wonderful evening.