NOTES FROM THE NEUTRAL ZONE

I was in a hugely bothersome conversation the other day - not bothersome because I disagreed with any of it, but bothersome because the implications of it could be, well let's say, difficult.

I think I had a furrowed brow throughout.

I've been wondering for a while now whether it's possible to stay in neutral ground on hotly controversial subjects. There's so much damage out there, so much tribal-thinking, it almost seems like you're on a loser to state any kind of opinion. For the longest time I've done my best to stay out of it all. Why, even on the train the other day, my friend Luke asked me something detailed about whether I had opinions. I heard myself say:

"I do have political opinions, but I never ever share them. It just causes trouble."

It seemed wise (even if it's a very difficult position to take sometimes). To be honest, I feel like I'm on shaky ground even writing about it! My default is always the middle ground, the neutral zone, where the cannons fire either side, and the bombs cruise high overhead. Fighting it out has never been my style.

And then a really bothersome conversation comes along where you realise that you might not be able to stay in 'no-mans-land' after all; kindness and love, and a commitment to truth - to real truth, all require you to 'take a side' because you can't afford to be dishonest with people any more about what you really think.

And then you realise with a sigh that there was a reason that First World War Conscientious Objectors were so vilified. There was (and still is) a war on, you know.

So here's the thing... and I'm truly sorry if this offends or causes pain, hurt, or significant upset, while I cross the barbed wire fence towards a 'position'. All I ask is that you don't think any the less of me.

-

You have to put cream on the scone first! It doesn't make sense putting cream on top of jam - and there's always more of the base layer, so the balance of delicious cream and lovely strawberry jam works best with slightly less of the really sweet stuff! Sorry Cornwall, but for me it's Devon all the way. Then the jam will spread so nicely over the cream! It's just harder work the other way around.

See? Bothersome isn't even the half of it.