Of Politics and Pacifiers

I suffer from occasional bouts of insanity. Thank God I seem to recover quickly.

Take for instance, my consideration of applying to be a community blogger. This is a position advertised by our local paper whereby you agree to post 3 times a week regarding current issues, reply to comments and submit to being a public whipping post. For FREE! Oh yes, sign me right up.

Granted, the reason I considered it is that it galls me that politics has become so political. I know, I know, I’m the eternal optimist who thinks it’s supposed to be about the thoughtful, intelligent exchange of ideas to lead government and formulate laws that are in the best interest of the people and in line with our constitution. How old-fashioned of me.

My passion to speak up is fueled when I read the words of Abraham Lincoln,
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

I love America. I find great comfort in the fact that I’ve read the last chapter of the book and righteousness wins. But it can get awfully messy between here and there.

The continous direction of our government in controlling more and more aspects of our personal lives alarms me on many levels. Did you hear that the FTC has issued a new law governing bloggers that takes effect December 1? Oh yes, it’s true. Michelle at Scribbit has an excellent summary of the 81-page document.


Lest I come across as harsh, I’ll leave you with a picture of goodness, peace and love. She brings joy and hope to my heart. She looks a little concerned about my conversation too, so we'll just have to fix our eyes on the promise in Jeremiah 29:11. And sing a bit- that always helps.

Peace Be Unto You

Even the weak become strong when they are united. ~J. Von Schiller

It was special to unite with friends from the blog world yesterday to lift up a banner of prayer over Andrew. We literally had people from coast to coast. It was powerful; if you missed it, I’m sure we’ll be doing it again.

I’m thinking about the miracle that is the nation of Israel today as they observe Yom Kippur. Peace is not the norm in Jerusalem, but it’s evident at least on this day as the whole nation pauses. The airport is shut down, TV and radio stations are off the air and all businesses are closed.

At our house, there’s a new peace between predator and prey. Yes, the 3 chickens who survived the Night of Terror have made peace with the dogs who were the perpetrators.
"We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers."~Martin Luther King, Jr

On a lighter note, I have to say that one of the few bumper stickers I’ve considered putting on my car is this one:
Shalom aleichem! (Peace be unto you)

It Was the Best Of Times

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness.” In 1859, Charles Dickens penned these lines in A Tale of Two Cites, though it seems he could have been describing 2008. When you read the headlines, it’s easy to become glum, so I have to turn my thoughts to higher things.

Well written prose and poetry is a kind of music to my soul.
So I go to the last verses (my grandmother’s favorite) of “The Day is Done” by Longfellow to share peaceful thoughts for this weekend:
“Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like Arabs,
And as silently steal away.”

And just for good measure (the measure being my heart is full!), meet the one who continues to impart a legacy to love the written word, to love God and to cherish all things beautiful. She is doing well!