Tag Archives: #politics

Spirituality

Take A Holiday From Politics

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and Christmas is just around the corner. This is a time of great anticipation, excitement and celebration. Don’t miss it because you prioritize your politics over your family and friends.

In 2022, the American Survey Center published a study demonstrating that 11% of respondents had stopped talking to a family member because of political differences. The real question is why. People you have known all your life have been isolated from your life because of a politician you don’t know. I know a handful of politicians. They are decent people, but don’t fool yourself. They want your money and your vote, not your friendship.

Who shows up when the shit hits the fan, your representative in Congress? No. Your family and friends arrive, and they bring reinforcements and refreshments.

Please don’t make the mistake of severing relationships over political differences. If everyone agreed with each other on all matters then there would be no divorces or wars. But we know that’s not the case.

Strong people can handle conflicts. The politicians don’t spend one nanosecond think about you, no matter what they say. A family member in isolation does, and they miss you.

Conflict resolution is messy because of pride (arrogance). Be the bigger person and start the process of reconciliation…

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Spirituality

Free Radicals

In the science world, free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing an electron, which makes them highly reactive. They are produced naturally in the body, but outside influences such as pollution, smoke and processed foods can cause them, too.

What happened to the Democrats? The party used to represent working people while also standing up for free speech. Today’s party is full of elites who detest the working class. And the crazies shout you down when you disagree with them. This represents a far cry from the party of JFK.

Jesus was a radical. He revolutionized his era, preaching love while hanging around with the people who were outcast by the religious leaders of their time. Jesus gave people hope and he never wavered.

Today’s Democrats are the free radicals in the physical world. Not all of them, of course. Just the far-left wing which are the ones who get most of the attention.

My encouragement to you is to continue standing up for what is true, right and just. Those things transcend politics…

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Spirituality

Saying Goodbye

When someone dies, I don’t think of it as a goodbye. It’s simply “see you later.” Hopefully, much later!

We hang up the phone and never think it might be the last time we ever speak to that person. Our thoughts move on to whatever is next. Recently we had three plane crashes. The family and friends of the dead never thought they wouldn’t see them again. We take life for granted.

It’s best to resolve conflicts with your circle of people. Keep things out in the open so there’s no bad blood between you. In this manner, should their life (or ours) be ended, there is nothing left to work through. We can miss them without any guilt.

People have severed relationships due to politics. In my opinion, this is shallow. People are important and we are way more than just our political beliefs. Would any of us refuse to help someone in need because they have a bumper sticker of the other side? Some have said goodbye and shut the door forever.

Please remember, if you are in conflict with someone else, I encourage you to resolve it. Have the difficult conversations, unless you believe it might cause more harm than good.

Above all, pray for each other…

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Spirituality

And The Beat Goes On…

Every time I tap into social media, it makes me think we are on the verge of destruction because of politics. We aren’t, and I’m being facetious. I don’t pay attention to the noise.

People have been fighting over their political beliefs since before the Constitution was written. And the people will be still be fighting long after I’m gone. For some, it seems to give them a sense of purpose. They dig their heels in and express their righteous indignation with a passion they weren’t aware they had.

Human decency should triumph over politics. People are what matters, regardless of their politics.

So, my encouragement to you is to take a break from political noise. Enjoy your life today and every day. Get outside. Take a friend you haven’t seen for a while out to lunch. Read for pleasure.

The noise will always be there if you want to return to it. I hope you don’t miss it…

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#inspiration

Family Time

Oftentimes when I ask people if they have vacation plans they respond, “yes, I’m going to visit some of my family.” My response is that family trips aren’t a vacation, they’re an obligation!

With the holidays approaching families will be together, hopefully celebrating and not fighting. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine whose brother has cut off contact with him because of politics. From my observation, this is happening more and more frequently. It’s sad, really. Differences in political beliefs should not be a dividing line.

One of the foundations of our identity is our family. I came from a completely dysfunctional family, but the dysfunction stopped with me. I healed and did not pass on the craziness to my sons. It took work, but my children are much more important than my comfort.

It’s okay to disagree with your family. If you ever found someone, anyone, who agreed with you all the time, they are a chameleon and not to be trusted.

Stand by your family. They will be the ones who remember you. The politicians won’t…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Time Out

In sports, teams call a time out when they need to regroup or rethink their strategy. Perhaps some people in the United States should call a personal time out.

The division in this great country has been building for 20 years. The last time we were united was immediately after 9/11. It makes me sad to see how divided and angry we have become. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Democrats are raging anger about losing the election. I have seen some Republicans gloating and throwing it in people’s faces. Both are wrong. We can be better, if we are willing.

Second to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. Our republic will still be here in 2028, no matter peoples opinions.

I encourage you to take time away from the noise. Get away. Travel. Enjoy time with your family and friends. The noise is always there if you feel some need to revisit it.

We are better together…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Angered

There’s a lot of angry people out there. Some people have lost their minds over politics. They even seem to revel in their angry rhetoric. It almost gives them a purpose.

Jesus got angry. In fact, he made a whip and cleared the Temple with it. Getting angry isn’t wrong when you are angry about the right things.

Injustice makes me angry, as does the exploitation and harming of children. Currently there are over 300,000 children who have been trafficked across our border that our government has lost track of. How something this colossally cruel and irresponsible could happen is beyond me.

When you get angry, ask yourself a question: is it worth it? If it’s important, pursue it with everything in you. If the answer is no then let it go.

There will always be something new to make you angry waiting around the next corner…

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#inspiration

Who Do You Prefer?

Every election cycle we get barraged by celebrities making their presidential endorsement. And we get some who promise to leave the country if the other parties candidate wins. The funny thing is, they are all still here. I guess they were just empty promises.

Being a critical thinker, you don’t need to listen to anyone about who to support, celebrity or otherwise. Your vote aligns with your values and what you want our country to look like in the future. It’s up to the candidates to win your votes because they have the right vision. It’s up to us to hold them accountable.

Voting is a serious matter, and it’s a great right. We sometimes take it for granted and we shouldn’t. We might lose that right someday if we aren’t careful…

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#inspiration

Civil Discourse

Civil discourse is the practice of deliberating about matters of public concern in a way that seeks to expand knowledge and promote understanding. If you are paying attention to social media you will start to believe civil discourse is dead. I believe it’s alive and healthy.

It takes an open mind combined with a willingness to listen to those who don’t agree with you. Listening to a different side is not a threat to your beliefs and convictions. In fact, I believe it’s healthy to try to see things through different eyes. This expands the lens you see the world through.

When you study history you will see that we have had discourse since the birth of our nation. Yet, we have survived 248 years.

In the end, we realize that we are better together…

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#inspiration

Friends For Life

There are people from my childhood that I’m still friends with. We have decades of history together. They are important to me. I know them and I care about them.

In the political culture we are living in, I have seen friendships severed because of politics. Relationships with people you know are tossed aside because of someone you don’t even know. The politicians don’t know or care about you. You might not like some of them if you got to know them. Politicians are self-serving, shallow people. They want your money and your vote. They don’t want your friendship.

You are going to go through periods in your life where you’re going to need people. You suffer a loss? Friends are there. Need some encouragement? Talk to a friend. Want companionship? Call one of your friends.

Where are the politicians when you need them? They are still in Washington pandering to the masses.

Value your friendships. They care about you…

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