Monday, September 08, 2008

Wake up! Wake up! It's Monday!

Ah, Monday. It used to be my least favorite day of the week but now it doesn't really matter since I don't have to get up in the morning and go to work. As a matter of fact it's almost 10am and I'm still in my jammies. O, of course, is in a diaper. That seems to be his favorite apparel as of late. He had a fit last week when I put pants on him. And when we went to have lunch with my mom and sister he said, "mommy, no pants!" Anything more than a diaper is just too many clothes for him!

I've been thinking a lot lately about the politics that we are experiencing right now in the US. It's a big year and a lot of important things have taken place. And many more are still to come. What bothers me about the politics of our day is the rampant mud slinging. I want to know what a candidate stands for and not what they think the other candidate doesn't. It is difficult to learn what is in the heart of a person when they are too busy slandering another person. Which in fact, probably speaks volumes about their character.

I don't profess to be a democrat or a republican or even an independent for that matter. My process is to listen to the candidates, some non-partisan people (is that possible) and investigate their stance on the issues that are important to me. It is my hope that I am making an informed and educated decision, rather than just aligning with a party because it's supposed to stand for what I believe in. I want the person I vote for the stand for what I believe in.

Last night at church our pastor preached on the text in Colossians 3 about rules for holy living. 3:12-14 says, "therfore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, wich binds them all together in perfect unity." This text tells us how to live. One does not need to be an ardant follower of Christ or even a Chrisian for that matter to exemplify the characteristics which Paul describes in this text. How different would politics, government or any corporation be if the candidates, elected officials or managers set this text as their guide for working and living? How different would we all be and the world be if we lived with this in our hearts? Our pastor was honest and said that it's near impossible for us to live up to this call. We are not perfect. Nor will we ever be until we are made perfect with God. But we can try. We can put effort into our journey.
Morgan's boss recently admitted to an employee who was leaving that he knows how he is. That he knows his people leave because of him and his ways. But he made it sound as if it was enough that he admitted that. That because he is aware of his mistreatment of his employees and negative behavior it is excusable. I wholeheartedly disagree with this. If one is intelligent enough to admit their faults he or she must also be intelligent and strong enough to change. To put effort into treating others with more care and compassion and respect. It is not enough to admit to sin, one must work to change, to live a life of love.
All of us will not written about in the history books or recorded as having achieved things as important as creating the light bulb or discovering electricity but our achievements are certainly recorded in the hearts and minds of our family and friends. It is important to leave a mark on those people of love and compassion and caring and not of hurt and mistreatment. I know this is a tall order. We are called to do what seems impossible. Everyday I know I've fallen short. I have not been as patient or kind or loving as I could have been. And it is daunting to get up the next day and try again. But it is what I'm called to do. As a Christian and as a human being.

Col 4:5 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

3 comments:

This is me: Sweet Pete said...

Amen girlfriend!
It's hard being a decent human being on a daily basis, that' is where free will comes in doesn't it?

Lynn said...

Bravo! Very well said. It is a very difficult to be a decent human, but we sure could all work on it. I know that each day I try. Some days are better than others. No one (as we all know) is perfect.

Noelia said...

Posts like these make me proud to call you my friend. You're a true gem you know? Not because you claim to be perfect but instead because you admit that you fall short but at least you TRY again and again. We should all do this, if we could just try to respect each other this world would be a better place indeed. Great post H!