Just to see what I'd become.

I've always liked the idea of ideas. Ideas fascinate me. My ideas. Others' ideas. And I like to agree and disagree. I can live with ideas. Even ideas I find difficult to accept. Ideas make me think. Even to the point of changing my mind. Yes, it's nice to evolve. To embrace one idea one day, and then alter it a bit or a whole lot the next day. Seems to me that's a natural thing. Because I'm always learning. For instance, I was brought up as a Christian. Toted off to Sunday school every Sunday. Confirmed in a church. Even graduated from a church-related college. And I still occasionally take courses at a seminary. But I'm not a Christian any more. Because I've moved on. To something better. A free-thinker. I find it too difficult to accept organized and orthodox religion. I think for myself. I gravitate to what makes sense. For me. I've really got nothing against Christians. Or Jews or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus or atheists. They all have a right to believe what they want to believe. Whatever makes sense. The same goes in the political realm. In college, I was rather conservative. I even talked kindly of Senator Joe McCarthy. That seems incredible. Now I would frown on a McCarthy. I'm a liberal. A socialist sympathizer. Very far left of center. All of this because I remain open to ideas. I listen. I study. I learn. And I examine my beliefs. Who knows what I'll be if I live another 10 or 20 years? Not me. But I'm curious. I'd love to live for another 1,000 years. Just to see what I'd become. --Jim Broede