Sep

25

Wedding Rings

September 25, 2008 |

I’ve just read my evening political and religious blogs; most full of pessimism and doom; some with a bright ray of hope.

And as I read, I’m looking upon my wife’s rings - her engagement and wedding bands.  She ocassionally takes them off when she’s working on the computer.  As I gaze upon these symbols of my covenants of love for her and my commitment to God to be her life partner, I can’t help but remember the man I was when I gave her those rings.

I was a man of ideals; of lofty political ambition.  I was going to be a great statesman; a transforming figure for my generation.

And now?  Well now, I am a good husband, a good father, providing for my family, contributing to my community.  I sit on local nonprofit boards, coach little league, help out where I can.  I like being home at night, teaching my kids, enjoying my wife’s interests.  At some point in time, I realized that I could either be a good public official, or a good father and husband, but not both; so I chose the latter.

But as I look at my wife’s rings, I remember a time when I served on Capitol Hill and would spend countless evenings staring at the Capitol during a long night’s work, wondering about all of the great, important things in my future that God had in store for me under that Dome, and gazing all around me at those globally important buildings dotting the National Mall (especially the one at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue).

So now, I’m on the plus side of a decade on that period of my life.  Whereas I was on top of national events, now I’m just along for the ride.  But, I want to be involved; I want to be engaged.

These are historic times; this is an historic election.  The War on Terror, the fight for energy independence, the financial markets meltdown; they will all define our generation. 

But, I know why I’m not in D.C., serving in this most historic of times.  I’m not there because God wants me where I’m at, doing what I’m doing.  And I’m perfectly OK with that.

We all serve a role in life.  Our life experiences are all geared toward a goal divined by God. 

But, at this juncture of our nation’s life, we must pray every day that we have the folks in place who are willing and called to lead; who step forward like King David and are leaders of integrity, steadfastness and action.  We must have leaders with a servant’s heart, who lead from the front and not from the rear.  We must have leaders who place America (and us) first, and their personal, political ambitions second.

We have those leaders ready to go; the question is whether we will see through the BS and allow them to lead us forward.

Judah and Israel were stuck with bad kings.  We do not, and cannot, be stuck with bad political leaders who look down upon us and don’t understand us.  We must ensure that our political leaders are truly one of us.  Because if they are one of us, they’ll get us; and if they get us, they’ll govern as a true servant and not as a know-it-all trying to tell us how to live.

This isn’t a time for “it’s not our fault” or “call me, if you need me” or “we had a bipartisan agreement except the other party really hasn’t signed off on the deal.”

This is a time for real leaders.  God always gives us the leaders we need, when we need them.  Let us pray that we listen and follow them.

The “Shining City on the Hill” or Judah/Israel?  This is our choice; right here, right now.


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Terry Nelson on September 26, 2008 6:21 pm

    This is a really beautiful post. All of your posts are. I think you are right in God’s palm - he holds you really close. God bless you and your family. If you remember, please say a Hail Mary for me. Thanks. I’m so happy there are good dads and moms and families out there.

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind