Almost defending Donald Trump

I had looked forward to the long street car ride to the west end of the city for hours before stepping on board. Had my guitar with me.

The guitar prompted the passenger across from me to ask what kind of music I played.

Before I could answer he told me that he was a student of Christian music and began reciting some rock and roll bands in whose music, he claimed, the devil resided.

I was about to counter with 'aren't you being a bit paranoid?' but he gave me no room to speak.

Ambushed. I had no out but to acquiesce to his beliefs.

But he wouldn't stop talking so I just nodded hoping I wasn't conceding to anything binding. He was a full throttle vociferous 'born again Christian, saved by the grace of God.'

He went on to complain about a societal conformity which made people resistant to stories like his and I said 'you mean like the kind of conformity that had evangelicals voting for Trump?'

He seemed undeterred as though my snippet response had no bite.

'No way God accepts Donald Trump into his kingdom, adulterer and liar that he is' he said, quoting at least twice, biblical verses from I Corinthians 6 and Revelation 22.

'But what about mercy?' I was on the verge of asking him, but like a puff of smoke he was gone. And all I could think of was that for a brief mercy moment, I was prepared to defend Donald Trump. Almost.

Oh how complicated to judge is, when mercy is in the way.