What happens when you bring together a Latter-day Saint whose politics are far to the right, and an atheist whose politics are as equally far to the left?

What happens is the Latter-day Saint and the atheist develop a friendship that rises above their differing beliefs, polarized as they may be. A friendship that defies the odds, and demonstrates it is possible to come to respect each other, for who we are as well as who we aren’t.

I am the atheist, and my dear friend PaleRider is the Latter-day Saint, and we have become great pals, which would have been unbelievable ten months ago.

When I joined the LDS.net board (LDSTalk at the time), our respective opinions resulted in some serious conflict. Politics was our boxing ring, and we never let up on each other.

I would write a diatribe about Bush, and Pale would respond with a diatribe about Clinton. Additional posts about a variety of political issues continued our dislike of one another. Our posts were never rude or petty, as both of us would be loathe to stoop so low. But they did reflect the reality that neither of us would ever agree with the other. In fact, if someone had told me I would one day hold Pale in such high esteem, I would have shaken her silly and told her to snap out of it.

Then the day came that changed everything,. Pale had written a post criticizing Clinton, and he really thought he had me this time! But to his shock, I adamantly agreed with him. His response? “I just punched a hole in my wall!” Once I came out of my shock, I actually laughed out loud, waking up the cat and my next-door neighbor.

I do not know whether he did, indeed, punch a whole in his wall, and I suspect he did not. But his post was an apt allegory of our budding friendship, and our relationship was changed.

The “hole in his wall” has been a running joke between us ever since. I even told him I would send him a pair of boxing gloves–purple boxing gloves with fru fru on them, to protect his wall. I think he was hoping I was serious.

One day, months later, my admiration for Pale turned into something more profound, and my affection for Pale became a sweet, tender thing.

I had always loved the Church’s teaching that charity is the ultimate love for our fellow man. It resonated with me, and I always perked up when it was the class subject. So one day when charity was the chosen topic, I was riveted–and then taken aback.

The teacher explained it was not true charity if it wasn’t given anonymously. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. To me, there was no point to charitable acts if you didn’t get the credit for them. And for the next thirty years, I pondered what he had meant about charity and anonymity.

Finally I came to understand. My own life experiences had given me the lesson I needed, and my comprehension was an epiphany.

Pale had read my posts about charity, which were voluminous both in number and length. It was difficult for some to grasp my meaning, but not Pale. He understood what I was trying desperately to convey, and in response, he sent me a message I will never forget.

Pale understood what my teacher had taught me so long ago, and his message was a touching example of such. My esteem for Pale grew, and from that moment on I considered him a colleague. And believe me, I am a snob when it comes to colleagues.

Let me just say after reading his message, I knew, without a doubt, that Pale is a kind man, a thoughtful man, and a perfect example of charity, though I doubt he would admit it. But I know it is so, and no one will ever convince me otherwise.

Then there is Pale’s sense of humor. If you are the least bit funny, he laughs. No, “laugh” is not exactly right. Belly laughs is more like it. But how do you belly laugh on the internet? Like this:

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The more exclamation marks, the funnier he thinks you are. But sometimes I think his LOL is just a courtesy laugh when I have written a post I think is hilarous, I suspect he is protecting me from knowing everyone else thinks my humor is dumb as dirt, and I appreciate his thoughtfulness. But the few times I have really written a cracker of a post, his dizzy exclamation marks span the page, and I am complete. How clever is Pale that he found a way to actually belly laugh on the internet?

There is so much more I could say about Pale, including how much I adore him, but brevity demands I finish this up. And so I conclude the story of the engaging but obnoxious right winger, and the insufferable but lovable atheist who met on a Latter-day Saint message board, and whose disdain for each other evolved into an endearing friendship and profound respect.

Now if I could only think of something really funny so I can show you the belly laugh again. How about this: It is simply impossible for me to stop writing political posts that annoy Pale. Yet the next time he writes a diatribe about Clinton, I may just agree with him, astounding him such that he is seconds away from punching yet another hole in his wall. Then it’s purple fru fru to the rescue.

Can I get a LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ephaba