tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800715528740636917.post98843904444200174..comments2023-05-04T09:58:46.608-04:00Comments on Living The Faith On A High Wire: Love, Gay Marriage and Losing Arguments... Carlos Espinosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714149763127456271noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800715528740636917.post-21216787661968134822013-07-03T13:14:12.757-04:002013-07-03T13:14:12.757-04:00Thank you, Anonymous for the encouraging words. T...Thank you, Anonymous for the encouraging words. They are greatly appreciated... Carlos Espinosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714149763127456271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800715528740636917.post-90468337521202958362013-07-01T17:01:55.044-04:002013-07-01T17:01:55.044-04:00Several of the guys have since expressed their app...<i>Several of the guys have since expressed their appreciation for my passion and defense of the Church.</i><br /><br />That's a sign of love right there! Your willingness to take an unpopular stand in defense of the Church's teachings shows others that our faith and its teachings are worth defending. Your friends may very well be saying to themselves: "after all, if a good, stand-up guy like Carlos Espinosa is so passionate about this, what are we missing?" That's how we live our faith: by example and by representing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800715528740636917.post-18431778712225378522013-07-01T14:24:44.158-04:002013-07-01T14:24:44.158-04:00Thanks, Robert.
Despite my emotions, I think I ...Thanks, Robert. <br /><br />Despite my emotions, I think I was controled throughout and didn't insult anyone; at least intentionally or through name calling. <br /><br />Several of the guys have since expressed their appreciation for my passion and defense of the Church. <br /><br />But, there is a point where ego and pride can take over in a heated discussion and we run the risk that any good we do is stained by our own sinfulness in doing it. <br /><br />As you stated, it's a fine line to walk.. Carlos Espinosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714149763127456271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2800715528740636917.post-21121837675116952013-07-01T13:48:48.289-04:002013-07-01T13:48:48.289-04:00Good stuff, Carlos. I gotta tell you, if you feel ...Good stuff, Carlos. I gotta tell you, if you feel strongly about something as important as traditional marriage, you're bound to get into situations where your emotions will get the best of you. Perhaps you don't think you were acting charitably in your discussions with friends, but unless you insulted someone or demeaned them for the sake of making you look better (which I seriously doubt), the you indeed acted out of love, even if it came across as aggressive and impassioned. <br /><br />Sometimes I think we as Catholics forget that debates get sticky and emotions run high, and we recoil when faced with this situation. This is a classic tactic the devil uses to tempt us to back away when we should be fighting back with the truth (I use "fighting" figuratively, of course). Kind of reminds me of parts of The Screwtape Letters. Not just "fighting back" with the truth, but mostly with love as you so well mentioned. That love, however, as our Lord shows us over and over again in the Gospels, isn't necessarily the kumbaya, "it's OK to feel that way or do that type of thing" love. It's more of a tough love and that means getting our hands dirty, raising our voices and hands a little, and not being afraid to correct someone's errant beliefs. <br /><br />It's a fine line to walk, but walk it we must. Keep the faith! Robert Molledahttp://searchingforsigns.comnoreply@blogger.com