Tag Archives: #politics

Spirituality

We Were Warned

In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington urged Americans to “actively preserve the constitutional system rather than take it for granted.” President Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” Voter apathy remains a concern, but there are bright spots.

The United States is in the bottom half of developed countries when it comes to voter turnout. School board elections run around 20% turnout while federal midterms hover around 45%. These numbers are abysmal. What are the reasons?

Trust in government has steadily declined since the 1960’s. Many people believe their votes don’t matter because the same people continue getting elected. It’s important to remember that we the people have a government, not the other way around.

Government is important, but it’s very rarely a solution to the challenges most people face. The politicians want you to think they have the answers, but their track record is horrible. The politicians waste our resources, yet they still want more from us. They haven’t earned our trust because of reckless spending, so they don’t deserve more.

My encouragement to you is to get educated about your candidates. Challenge them on their rhetoric. Then hold them accountable when their actions don’t align with their promises…

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Spirituality

The Middle Ground

It seems like some people have drawn their lines in the sand. For reasons I don’t completely understand, part of the population has decided their politics are the most important thing in their lives. Some people have sacrificed friendships and family over political differences. What happened to the middle ground?

Personally, I have friends all across the political spectrum. Our relationship is based upon our shared values and common interests. We may see the political landscape differently, and that’s okay. We respect each other’s right to vote the way we want.

Some people find joy in hurling insults at people over the internet. That’s weak. If name calling and pejoratives are all you have, then I question what you really believe.

Everyone wants to find purpose in this life. Each of us has been given special talents to accomplish our purpose. Perhaps yelling about political differences makes people feel like they are accomplishing something, and they are! They are driving others away.

Find the middle ground. Connect with other good people. Focusing on one lane of the superhighway might cause you to miss something. And that includes people…

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Spirituality

A House Divided

Abraham Lincoln was giving a speech in 1858 after winning his Senate seat. Lincoln famously said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” But Lincoln wasn’t the first person to say it. Old Honest Abe was quoting Jesus.

Jesus was healing people and casting out demons. Some of the scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of getting his powers from dark forces, specifically Beelzebul. Jesus simply answered their false accusations by asking, “why would Satan work against himself? That a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

If you pay any attention to news media you would think Americans are at each other’s throats. We’re not. Well, some are but they are the minority. Most of us respect the right of others to believe differently. It isn’t a threat.

At the same time, hanging out with only the people who are like-minded is living in an echo chamber. And it’s dangerous. You can become arrogant in your thinking.

We are more than our politics. Way more. Everyone has goals, dreams and desires for their lives. And everyone has struggles. People show up to help when disasters occur. Perhaps this is why they are called acts of God. This is when we see the good in others, which reflects the goodness of our Creator.

We are better together…

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Spirituality

Live Music

There’s nothing like being able to attend a live concert. Music connects us. One of the ways we process our emotions is through great songwriting.

For over twenty years, some performers have been using the stage to share their “great wisdom” about politics they disagree with. I’m not interested. The reason I am there is to get away from the noise of the world for a couple of hours. If I wanted to attend a political rally, I would have chosen that instead.

Entertainment is just that. We want to be entertained. It’s a short vacation from our daily reality. Nowadays it costs a lot of money to attend a concert or sporting event. Keep your unwanted opinions to yourself and just play. Please!

I’ll continue going to live music performances, no doubt. But the political noise should be omitted from the set. I can read and think another time…

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Spirituality

Eyesight to the Blind

We have become blind to the truth. We are better together, yet we have allowed outside forces to keep us separated and angry. We can turn this ship around, but it will happen only when we become willing.

Do you remember learning about barn raisings? During the frontier days, entire communities would come together to build a barn for a family. Everyone helped. There was no payment for services. They simply relied on each other for survival. They were in community.

Do you remember the search and rescue efforts after the drownings at Camp Mystic? People showed up to help. No one segregated themselves by their politics. They just worked.

The people you criticize are your fellow citizens. If your politics are the only thing that defines your identity, you are one of the blind. Open your eyes and see the beauty that surrounds you.

The Amish and Mennonites still do barn raisings. These communities don’t have television or social media. Perhaps they are the smart ones…

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Uncategorized

Misleading Headlines

The media has gone into overdrive. In better days, sensational headlines were reserved for The National Enquirer. Not anymore.

Recently, I read a story headline that indicated Greenland, Denmark and the United States were heading into contentious talks about the future of Greenland. It was their first meeting! Normal people don’t enter the room looking for a fight. The meeting went fine. No blood was spilled.

In the United States, trust in the media has been steadily declining for years. Their trust level is hovering around the politicians, but not far above bail bondsmen. Legitimate reporting died when Walter Cronkite retired.

Donald Trump was a shot in the arm for the media and the entertainers. They couldn’t wait to report whatever outrageous thing he said. Accuracy in reporting went out the window because clicks were more important. Never mind everything else going on in the world. If Tiananmen Square had happened in 2019, we wouldn’t hear about it until 2035, if even then.

Be discerning about everything you read or see on television. The media put themselves in this situation. No one forced them to be subpar. If it sounds outrageous, it’s probably just trying to get you to click on it…

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Spirituality

I Wonder…

Sometimes silly things pop into my head. Things such as, I wonder what happened to “Baghdad Bob.” Remember him? He was so ridiculous yet entertaining even the President enjoyed his broadcasts.

Important questions come to mind, too. I wonder how we became so divided in the United States. We have had political differences since before the Constitution was written, but in the end the people worked through their differences. The framers created one of the greatest documents ever written, second to the Bible. The Constitution isn’t perfect, like Scripture, but it has lasted for 250 years. That’s longer than I have been alive!

I look at this beautiful world we live in with awe and wonder. The stars are magnificent. The mountains of Norway are majestic, soaring into the sky like nothing I have ever seen. The raw beauty God created never ceases to amaze me. If your life’s focus is political divide, you are going to miss so much.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m willing to engage in conversations with intelligent, open-minded people who see the world differently. This is one of the ways I learn. It’s not a threat to challenge your own beliefs and convictions. It’s a healthy exercise that expands the lens you see the world through.

Still I wonder what happened to the people who used to send me unsolicited invitations to play Candy Crush. One day they just quit coming.

One day life will be over for everyone. A lot of the things I don’t understand will be answered in eternity. Or maybe they won’t. But while I’m on this side, I’m going to enjoy the people and the places. It’s my hope that you do, too…

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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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