Politically Speaking: Because I Must

If anyone reads my blog on a regular basis, know I don't often talk about politics. I think I did one post during the primaries over a year ago and well...I guess this will be the one post for this year.

I'm keenly aware that politics brings out the worst in people. I know that, I'm just not sure why it has to. We're Americans and we should be able to voice our opinions , beliefs, and differences in such a way that does not incite people to hatred and violence.

Last night I watched a news report that told of a pastor, Steve Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church, Temple, Arizona, who was quoted as saying, in a sermon entitled "Why I Hate Barack Obama", that he prays Obama will die and go to hell.

I cannot begin to tell you how this statement grieved my heart. Oh, the number of untold millions of people that will hear this and say, "that's why I'll never be a christian,"
"I don't need to know this man's jesus".

I can say of a certainty, I don't know this man's jesus either. The Jesus I know would never say such things. The Jesus I know, is a Jesus of love, kindness and compassion. The Jesus I know loves even those who hate and are unkind and teaches me, as His follower, to also love the unlovable.

I understand there are those on the other side of the political spectrum that could be just as capable of saying such hateful statements and have not hesitated to do so when President Bush was in office. That is a given...but it still don't make it right.

In my own home, I'm quite in the minority. Somewhere along the way, my political views shifted. A very liberal conservative, some might say or a very conservative liberal. Most of my family, friends and my dear husband are quite the conservative, conservative. But we manage to love, respect, live and play together each and every day.

My grandson and I often enjoy discussing issues of the day. He is such a blessing to me and might I joyously add, he surrendered to the gospel ministry just this past Sunday! Recently during one of our discussions, he asked me the reasons why I was for health care reform. This post was to state my reasons why and I have many.

But I believe in keeping the most important thing, the important thing. And the most important thing is love, kindness, goodness and compassion toward our fellow man, whether he be lovable or unlovable, conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, for health care reform or against.

At the end of the day, that which unites us, is so much more than that which would divide .

***May God help us all in these difficult days and may He help our elected officials to make wise and good decisions, may He keep them all safe and out of harms way.***