At lunch the other day, the waitress asked my friend and I what we would like to drink.  “A Coke” was my friend’s reply. “Is Pepsi ok?” she offered.

“No, what else do you have?”

I was both surprised and delighted that my lunch companion had the same response I normally give.  He is a kindred spirit!  Someone else who gets it!  Ok maybe that’s a bit over the top, but honestly, there is a big difference between Coke and Pepsi.

Now I realize this is a matter of preference and taste and you can’t really make yourself like something.  And for that matter some may like Coke and Pepsi equally as well.     However for my friend and I, there were some pretty clear lines drawn about what is acceptable and not for a lunch beverage.

It got me to thinking about those non-negotiable things of my life.  What are they?  Are they the big things or the little stuff?  It moved me to reconsider my strong position on Coke and Pepsi.

We have lots of things that we hang on to in our journey of life as non-negotiable.  But are they really?   You have all, no doubt, been in meetings where people drew lines and spent lots of energy on the little stuff.  And you vowed to not make others suffer through the same thing.

So, what things are close enough, even if you would prefer something else, and what is truly the thing around which there is no substitute.

As people of faith, we claim some non-negotiable foundations for our life.

We cling to the promise that God loves you and me and all of creation.  God’s love is gift.  Jesus Christ is Lord who claims us and calls us into relationship and life.  The Spirit of the Risen Christ is at work renewing and strengthening us for the journey.

I can’t help but notice, Coke or Pepsi isn’t on the list.

The Long View is Pastor Liz’s mid-week observation of our regular stories, and how they may show the Spirit at work.