Many of us were very disappointed in the reelection of President Obama. These are my thoughts on moving forward.
First off, for me it is not personal. Much has been made of the President’ skin color. For me It is certainly not about skin color. In fact, I find the idea of voting for someone based on skin color or gender offensive. As a minority myself I have never wanted to be treated differently than anyone else based on the color of my skin. I don’t need a handicap. I’d rather stand, and if necessary, fail on my own. Failing is good if you embrace it and learn from it. Bitterness towards others and circumstances won’t move you forward. And in taking that attitude I’ve experienced amazingly little discrimination throughout my life.
Not that I am naive to the existence of discrimination and racism. I know full well what my parents and grandparents had to endure. But as a country we have made a lot of progress. And like I said, revenge and bitterness are not motivators that lead you to your full potential.
For me it was, and is, about principles. I don’t agree with what the President represents. I find no satisfaction in seeing other people punished for their success. I find it offensive when the President tells people to vote for revenge. Revenge from what? Revenge on who? This is unity?
I don’t like the government telling you what kind of car you can drive or forcing you to subsidize green energy you will never use. I sure don’t want you paying for my medical bills. Insurance by definition is shared responsibility. That is not what government health care is.
The Presidents economic policies, if he continues to pursue them, will fail once again. The fact is that Keynesian economics has failed spectacularly every time it has been tried. I’m sorry but that is just a fact.
Emotional appeal can often overcome factual data and I recognize that. How else to explain the endless election of liberal democrats to run large cities that are broke, crime ridden, burdened by high taxes and failing schools?
I’m of the mindset at this point that things will have to get worse before they can become better although there is the risk at some point that we don’t pull out of it.
But to be clear, I’m not stressing about the election and you shouldn’t either.
It is over and tomorrow will be a new day. America voted for more of the same. The Senate and House look just like they have the last two years.
The President and Senate will tell the House that we need to unite for the sake of the country. But what they will really mean is Republican’s need to cave on their principles and do what Democrats want. So gridlock is likely to ensue and like the last 4 years the President will proceed to operate without a budget and the Federal Reserve will print money as necessary.
I’m reminded of the story of David from 2 Samuel 12:
…the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah’s widow, (became) very sick. David prayed to God for the baby. David fasted and went into his house and stayed there, lying on the ground all night. 17 The elders of David’s family came to him and tried to pull him up from the ground, but he refused to get up or to eat food with them.
On the seventh day the baby died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead… If we tell him the baby is dead, he may do something awful.”
When David saw his servants whispering, he knew that the baby was dead. So he asked them, “Is the baby dead?”
They answered, “Yes, he is dead.”
Then David got up from the floor, washed himself, put lotions on, and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord‘s house to worship. After that, he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.
David’s servants said to him, “Why are you doing this? When the baby was still alive, you fasted and you cried. Now that the baby is dead, you get up and eat food.”
David said, “While the baby was still alive, I fasted, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’ But now that the baby is dead, why should I fast? I can’t bring him back to life. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.”
And so it goes. While there was hope for a change, I prayed like many of you. I tried with my blog to persuade. I attempted to educate about cause and effect. To teach about past history regarding the things that have worked and not worked to grow an economy.
It never has, and never will be, about me.
In a personal way I don’t fear the government. I don’t fear Obama. I’m of the mind of Luke 12:4 which says, “don’t be afraid of people who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more to hurt you. 5 I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who has the power to kill you and also to throw you into hell.” That verse, when you embrace it, is liberating.
No, my sadness is for those young people who are having $4.5 billion of debt piled on them every single day. For the young people who have dwindling hopes that they will do better than their parents. For the ever increasing number of children that grow up never having experienced just how well America can work.
I’m still not willing to accept the current conditions in our country are the new normal. For now, consider the words of Jesus.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21
Just where is “your” treasure? For me, that is a question I plan to revisit. And then I will once again pursue the path of the Apostle Paul.
…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13-14
I hope you will join me in moving, Forward!
