I was just talking with one of my roommates, B___, and he really straightened me out a bit. You see, another of my roommates, A___, and I get along in exactly the same way that best friends do not. I had been feeling quite self-righteous about it, because for the first five weeks of this ten-week internship I had been making quite a few overtures to him. We never really clicked, though; and I even get the feeling he resents my asking him if he had a good day.
   Now, B___ told me that we as Christians do have an obligation to reach out to those which are different from ourselves, and not just sequester ourselves with those who think and act like us. I thought I had that covered, so I became defensive (though I don't think I came across that way). I started talking about how I'm not like that, and I get along with almost everyone, and I reach out to people that are different. Really, I do. I brought up an example, a girl named K___, also on this same internship, with whom I get along famously — you couldn't find two people who disagreed more on highly significant issues.
   That satisfied him, and he then said, "Well, sometimes we just have to learn to know when to shake the dust off our shoes and move on." About then is when I finally gave in to the Holy Spirit's conviction, I started thinking.
   "I'm thinking, maybe I 'kicked the dust from my shoes' a little too soon."
   He started mulling that over, and we talked a bit more. Then he said, "You know, we have Divine protection. We can tread on waters others can't. That gives us a bit more of a responsibility."

   You know, it does, doesn't it? That's something I don't think about nearly enough. I think God's had enough of ivory-tower Christianity.