The Day I Decided to Blog

The funeral of Antonin Scalia was today. The day he died, every news station covered the story. In part from a personal perspective regarding the loss of a highly opinionated, devout Catholic, passionate man who served our country as a committed constitutionalist. And just as quickly in part from a political one, since the stakes of replacing a Supreme Court Justice are so high.

As one pundit after another comments on his life and legacy and the fallout of his death, the two ideas that continue to strike me most in his story are:

a) Judge Scalia unabashedly stood on his principles.  As a staunch conservative and constitutional scholar, he made decisions from the bench that were wildly unpopular on the left. Nonetheless, he steadfastly stood on his convictions.

b) Still, he was reportedly good friends with Ruth Bader Ginsburg… who served with him on our nation’s highest court. She was arguably as far left as he was right; yet, they dined together and vacationed together. They were good friends.

And I keep landing in the same place every time:

We have lost our way.

In my corner of the world, I see it clearly in three areas…in education, in the church, and in politics. We have lost our way.

I have been sitting on this idea to blog for a while now. There are countless people sharing their random opinions online, blog-style. Often, I feel like I’m being told to care about what random people think, and it really bugs me.

That said, I am joining their ranks. Let’s be honest, most of you reading this right now are my family…and my few friends I feel brave enough to share this with (thanks, by the way). But as I slowly release this more publicly, there are two reasons I’m doing this:

a)  I have a lot of opinions, and keeping them to myself has never been my gift : ). But for the longest time, that’s all I thought they were…opinions. As time passes, as my life-experience increases, as my investment in understanding various areas of life grows, I’m starting to believe more strongly that there are areas in which I am correct. And maybe other people would benefit from hearing about some of these ideas from other perspectives that aren’t typically expressed.

b) On some level, I think God might be prompting me to write this. Ironically – or maybe not so if you ask close people in my life – not only do I have a lot of opinions, but I have them in a lot of areas. But there are a few opinions that – at least from what I can tell – simply aren’t being said. So, maybe I’m the one who is supposed to say them…if only to five people. ;)

The day after Scalia died I decided it was time to start blogging. Officially.

So, I will end this first blog with my first opinion.

We have lost our way. In so many ways. Not the least of which is in our inability to love those with different opinions from our own. I don’t mean the kind of differing opinions where a dedicated fan of the Buckeyes loves a dedicated fan of the Wolverines. Or where one who believes in Hondas loves another who believes in Toyotas.

I mean: we have a lack of civility between one another when we argue our deep-down-heart-and-soul kind of issues. When we passionately believe in something, we all too often have an overall inability to intelligently argue and debate issues in such a way that allows us to confidently stand on our own principles, truly listen and honor another person’s stand on their own principles, allow our principles to wildly differ, and to love one another when it’s all over.

I have more thoughts on the subject. Stay tuned for Blog 2.

 

 

In about 24 hours, this election season will come to a close.  College textbooks and history will likely analyze this election, as will all of us who lived it.

Tomorrow, we have the distinct honor to exercise our right to vote amidst this madness.  For a long time, I’ve been sitting on this set of ideas I wanted to share…mostly regarding a desperate plea to others to go vote.  I definitely still stand on that platform…especially in light of all those who sacrificed their lives for this great privilege.  Please. Go vote. Not because you have to. But because you get to when millions around the world never will.

In the long run though, I have instead found myself wanting to share with those who read this where I hope we land when all this is over. 

I am a Republican, and I’m going to vote for Trump. I am not a Republican because my parents brought me up that way nor because I am a FOX news junkie-though both those things are true.  I am a big girl with my own thoughts, my own opinons and beliefs, and my own convictions.  The Republican platform best represents my ideals for this country and the ideals on which I believe our founding fathers – though imperfect – founded this great nation. 

I am not a Republican because the platform is perfect.  In fact, as a general rule, I believe the Republican party has lost its ability to love others and to take care of our citizens with deep compassion and kindness.  It can neither stand up with conviction nor healthily compromise separate from a decision regarding power, money, greed, or re-election.  I am also not voting for Trump because I think he is a good man nor because I believe all the opinions of well-meaning people who claim he has been redeemed into a solid, moral person. I am not voting for him because he is honest nor an incredible change agent.  I have wrestled with the claims against him, and I have therefore had to wrestle with what my vote represents in this election.  My vote represents the direction I want the country to go.  In this election in particular, my vote stands for nothing more, nothing less.  Voting for Trump gets me the closest I can be to the conservative policies I believe in.

But if we are all honest, in this election, that is about the most anyone on either side of the aisle can hope for.  Because, if we – liberals and conservatives alike – let down our defenses, back up from our staunch positions, and just level with one another as regular, every-day, hard-working American citizens, we would likely all agree that, in the above paragraph, “Republican” and “Democrat” and “Trump” and “Clinton” are equally interchangeable. 

In my most poignant and meaningful conversation I had this political season, I talked with a dear friend who is as strongly a Democrat as I am a Republican.  And together, we talked about this failed American system that is slowly leading us to an aristocracy of upper-class elite individuals running our country.  We exchanged honest reflections about both candidates.  We shared our disappointment in our parties that have failed us in so many ways.  We shared conversation about the strength of our opponent’s parties, the weaknesses of our own, and the disappointment of where we stand today. 

Neither of us was going to convince the other to change our positions.  Nor did we try.  But instead, we listened.  She is as strongly against voting for Trump as I am against voting for Hilary. She has her reasons, and I have mine.  And while we will likely always vehemently disagree with one another, there was – at the exact same time – a profound love and respect for one another that was grounded in a shared faith and a deep love of country. 

We may believe in different paths to get there, but we still desire for a free America that leads to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

In reality – no matter how strongly we feel convicted to vote a certain way – isn’t that what we all want? 

In 24 hours, when all this is over, may we remember that we are brothers.  We work alongside one another and live in communities together.  We may have different backgrounds and different lifestyles, but we are all citizens of this great nation.  We have the great privilege of being unique and diverse from one another.  May we also experience the great privilege we have of loving one another. 

May we – in our passion for our country and in this election – see less of what divides us and more of what joins us together.  May we find ways to show compassion to those in need.  May we find ways to give generously of our time and our efforts to help others. 

May we – in our courage and strength – set aside the spins of the media and pundits (on whatever channel we watch) and the talking points of journalists and politicians to be authentic with one another.  To be real and trustworthy with our neighbor.  To work hard with integrity.  To be those who give direct answers to questions.  To have a “yes” mean “yes” and a “no” mean “no.”  May we not succumb to the ways in which our media or politicians guide us.  May we instead rise above to challenge one another to think, to push each other to be honest and forthright, to stand up for our beliefs, to honor each other’s diverse opinions.  May we be the individuals that promote unity even amidst diverse thought and opposing views.  May we not sway so far left or so far right that we leave our brother on the side of the road. 

When this is all over, may we stand together – not as Democrats or Republicans who won or lost an election, but instead – as regular American citizens…citizens entrenched in our own stories of life that have shaped us…but also entrenched in our collective desire to do good, to love others, to celebrate our freedoms, to fight for this great nation…and to be united as one in these great states of America. 

But what if He does?

A number of my Facebook friends shared the Huffington Post column, “What If God Doesn’t Want to Make America Great Again?” by Chris Gilmore.

I read it.  A few times actually.  And after reading it, each and every time, I landed at this question in my head:

But what if He does?

I’m not suggesting that we ask this question as a rah-rah “Vote For Trump because he can Make America Great Again” kind of way.  That’s another topic entirely.

But what I am suggesting is: when did Christians allow their not understanding God’s path to cause them to let go of the believing He does indeed want goodness for us?

Many of us have encountered these negating questions in our lives…from well-meaning and good intentioned people.  What if God doesn’t want (fill in the blank of not-yet fulfilled dream) for you?

But what if He does?  

It’s my guess that these dear Christian people think that by asking these counter-questions, they are somehow pointing out something the rest of us haven’t thought of.  Like somehow we missed Being a Christian 101.

I know and trust God is sovereign.  Of course, He is.

And of course, in the long-run of any story – our own personal ones or the story of this country – His ultimate plan will unfold perfectly and according to His will.  Of course, it will.

But just for consideration: can you imagine if – in the face of losing battles – George Washington allowed the questions of What if God doesn’t want us to be free?…What if God does not want America to exist? to consume him?  Or if those on either side of the battle field in the Civil War – those men who fought their own people on behalf of this nation – chose not to fight for what they believed in? Or when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, if our leaders  decided to answer the question What if this is the end of America? with a resounding YES?

I think it is likely that generations of American citizens have faced these similar questions we face in 2016.

But we sit here today in part because, when the people before us faced these questions, they did not give up on this country.

Most historians land collectively on this fact: America was built by many – albeit, imperfect – God-fearing people. And God allowed these imperfect God-fearing men and women to create a democracy that – while not always perfect – has been successful for over 200 years and has provided goodness for many around the world.

And their God is our God.

He is the same God.

And what I can hear those people saying – men and women alike throughout the generations – as they internally processed the questions about God’s direction for this country was: “Until God shuts this down, we will fight.”

Pointing out that God may not want America to be great again does not make anyone more spiritual or more heavenly-minded.  And while perhaps not his intention, Mr. Gilmore, demeans those of us who do believe in God’s sovereignty, who do believe His perfect will will be done, and yet who also do believe that we are called to fight for this great land until He shuts it down.

In his article, Mr. Gilmore pointed out Scripture’s call on our life to pursue being like Jesus.  I agree whole-heartedly.  But I don’t believe it is spiritually incorrect to do both.  Yes, we are called to daily strive to live and love like Jesus on a deeply interpersonal level in our most imperfect ways.  And yes, we can do this while also being citizens of a country that we a) believe God played a role in divinely inspiring and designing and – as such – that we b) believe we have a responsibility to help preserve.  Until He shuts it down.

 

What if Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and a warped government are not some divine sign that God does not want to make the country great again?  What if instead He is calling us to pray for this country like we never have before?  What if He wants us to cry out to Him and ask Him to help us make this country great again? What if He is asking us to learn and know and understand as much as we possibly can about the founding of this great nation…to get involved somehow or to simply make the most informed voting decision?  What if He is calling Christians not to unite specifically around a candidate but to instead unite around the privilege to be Americans and the privilege to live free to serve the Lord in this great land?

 

Whether you agree with every sentence in this blog or not, may we consider this: Serving Christ daily and fighting for our country do not have to be mutually exclusive.  Does Scripture call us to strive to be like Jesus in our day-to-day living? No question. Fortunately, we aren’t the first set of people to strive to do that. Can we perhaps agree that “our country has lost its way…” Absolutely.  Yet I doubt we are the first generation to think that.  And can we sit here and think that our government and politics are more screwed up than ever before?  Definitely.  That may even be true…although I doubt we are the first generation to think that either.

 

But in the end, most importantly: I do NOT want to be the first generation of Christians that stopped fighting for this country.

 

Because what if God DOES want America to be great again?

Two.

I have been thinking about the number of people in my life with whom I have had deep conversations but where each of us stood on opposite sides of an ideological fence… where tensions are high…and where our prides are on the line…but where each of us is quiet long enough to listen…where each of us learns from the other…where each of us walks away a little better, a little wiser, and a little stronger…in our view points, in our character, and as people.

One is a colleague who has a similar perspective on education. We often find ourselves in deep philosophical conversations about the ethics involved in educational systems and decisions and policies. But at the heart of any conversation about ethics is an underlying belief system that drives our thinking.

And while we typically stand together on what needs to be the primary driving force for educational decisions, our underlying belief systems are distinctly different.  My colleague is a devout Catholic, a father, a husband, and a follower of Christ. He knows and understands the intricacies and details of the Catholic faith unlike anyone to whom I have ever spoken.  And, while I am also a follower of Jesus, I am a Protestant.

So when we – a Protestant and a Catholic – start debating the fundamental belief systems that drive our ethical opinions, the crux of each others’ faiths quickly lay at the feet of the other.

And in that is great vulnerability.

For perhaps this reason, it is often said that friends should not discuss politics and religion.  At stake is the friendship.  At stake is our own individual test to see if we have the courage to stand on what we believe in.  But even more at stake is: can we actually set aside our need to be right to hear the other person, to understand their thought process, to consider the reason they think the way they do?

And perhaps behind that question is really: are we able to set aside our pride to first love and respect one another?  And are we able to listen – truly listen – so that we might learn and grow from another’s heart and opinion?

The conversations I have with my friend are often heated.  We vehemently disagree on various aspects of our faith that define who we are.  But at the end of the day, the love God calls us to have towards one another trumps our disagreements.

I don’t say that in a bragging way.  I have two people in my life that I can disagree with like this.  Two.

In my first post, I commented on recognizing Supreme Court Justice Scalia’s unique ability to both unabashedly stand on his principles and yet still forge meaningful relationships with others who disagreed with him.

I think that’s rare.  We so often stick with those who think like us and view life like us and who keep us feeling comfortable. But I think this is why ~ because when people challenge our thinking and stretch us outside our comfort zones, we lean one of three ways.

1. Sometimes, we become defensive verbally or passive aggressively through silence…both directions of which shut down the conversation.
2. In our lack of confidence or knowledge or full understanding of why we believe what we do or in our struggle to articulate our beliefs, we quietly exit the conversation to avoid conflict.
3. We use social media to send out tweets, sound-bites, and posts that are limited in depth and understanding but that rarely scratch the surface of the complexity of an issue…and that often include cheap shots and name-calling.

We rarely embrace the moment to sit in the tension of disagreeing.  And we rarely embrace the moment to learn from the other person.  I’m not suggesting we give up our stand.  I doubt Ruth Bader Ginsberg ever swayed Antonin’s opinion…or vice versa.  But I bet iron sharpened iron.

Perhaps it’s because we don’t love each other enough.  Or respect each other enough.  Or maybe it is simply that we are just scared.  Scared to jeopardize friendships, scared to be wrong, or perhaps even scared to face our insecurities about our own beliefs.

But whatever it is – we miss out on sharpening each other’s iron.

I am suggesting we learn to stand on our own two feet – through learning and understanding – beyond 140 characters in a witty tweet or even a sound-bite opinion.   I am suggesting we learn more about why we believe what we believe.  I am suggesting we read more and listen more.  I am suggesting we practice saying out loud what we believe in and why.

And I am suggesting we find those we love who we know we disagree with…and see if we can build a relationship of trust and understanding and respect in a way that allows us to grow and be better.

I do believe we have lost our way…in many ways.  But there are areas where we can change.  And not all of them require the government or politicians or even leaders around us to help change this country.

We can all play a role in helping make these changes.  So, I am also suggesting this because I want it for myself.