• From my journal: I like the word "conflicted." It describes my feelings when I see and appreciate both sides of a complex issue and find myself disinclined to assert an opinion.

I'm conflicted, for example, about President Bush's proposed tax cut, conflicted about some forms of worship, conflicted about the Atkins diet. On even days, I can argue "for," on odd days "against." I'm conflicted, you see!

I come from a Christian background where it seemed that one should never be (or admit being) conflicted on matters of doctrine or ethical persuasion or almost anything else for that matter. We were taught to "take a stand," never to compromise. But sometimes that smelled like arrogance and bull-headedness to me.

I am an older man now, and I often see many sides to once-simple questions. The things about which I am sure certaintly have shrunk in number. "On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand" speaks to me. All the rest? Well, I guess you could say that I am sometimes, ...