I've mostly given up on following politics. At least for now. Here's why.
I used to love politics. For the record, I'm a libertarian-leaning Republican. I believe that government is best that governs least. Over the years I've enjoyed the political talk shows, from Rush Limbaugh to Dennis Prager. And it's not like I'm all that involved in actually doing anything - I just enjoyed following along and discussing with my conservative friends (and with more liberal friends, as long as it was a discussion, not a debate). For me, the presidential elections were like the superbowl, but imagine a sports fan only getting that big event every 4 years! I routed for my side to win and was bummed when my side lost.
In the last election, I really thought Romney was going to win. Maybe that was wishful thinking. But - and I'll try to be clear here - I think Obama is a poor president. Not just his policies - obviously, I disagree with his policies. And he may be a decent guy - I don't think he has any Machiavellian plans. But with Clinton, I disagreed with most of his policies, but there's no arguing that the man was a master politician and that he was a decent president. Look at what happened with welfare reform - he gave in and signed the bill eventually, because he was a pragmatist and he wanted to be reelected. But notice how he got the credit for it, even though he was originally against it. The guy's not stupid.
As opposed to Obama - I mean no offense to anyone, but I simply don't think he's good at the job, regardless of his political bent. He's not decisive. He often consults with political operatives instead of actual experts. He puts ideology above the greater good. And he's bent and possibly broken the Constitution on many occasions, whether it's in spending money that he has no authority to spend or continuing a military action past the date where it is lawful to do so without permission from Congress. But I digress.
So I was disgusted when Obama beat Romney. I decided to just tune out for a while - give myself a break.
And that's when something in my brain began to change. At first, I was just surprised to find that I didn't miss it. But over time, something new has dawned on me. Which is that, as a Christian, it had become an idol.
Don't get me wrong - I think some people are either wired for or called to be in politics. And that's fine. I don't think Christians should steer clear of being part of the process. And I think we all need to be responsible citizens who are aware of the issues and vote our conscience. But I've grown a deeper awareness of this truth - as Christians, we are living in enemy territory on this planet. And despite our freedoms here in the U.S., it's true here, too.
Too often, I have looked to the political process or a particular candidate as something or someone that will help get our county back on the right path. But it's like I'm looking for the answer to the wrong question. Because, really, what's going to change our country the most? It's not welfare reform (although I think that was a good thing) or any number of policies that I agree with or would like to see enacted. You know what has a larger impact? Being a good parent. Being there when your friend is in the hospital. Buying groceries for someone who's in need. Mentoring a kid. Each of these seemingly small things, I believe, has a greater impact on our country than any policy we could get passed.
Perhaps you think I'm using hyperbole. I'm not trying to, and I don't think I am. I honestly believe that taking the time to sincerely love someone ripples across the universe in ways that we barely understand.
I've been reading G.K. Chesterton, and he talks about how a lunatic's worldview actually makes sense within the world he has constructed. For example, if he thinks people are secretly following him, and you point out that they don't even know him, he can respond that that is exactly what they would say if they were covertly following him. See - his logic is perfect and makes sense within his world. His world is a like a circle - it's infinite, but he doesn't recognize that he's trapped himself in a logical circle that is smaller than reality.
I think it's the same thing with most 'ism's. We build these ideologies, and we discuss and debate; we've thought it through and we know all of the answers. And our worldview makes sense. But we've trapped ourselves in an infinite circle that is smaller than reality.
Happily, for me, reality broke through.
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"Take first the more obvious case of materialism. As an explanation of the world, materialism has a sort of insane simplicity. It has just the quality of the madman's argument; we have at once the sense of it covering everything and the sense of it leaving everything out. Contemplate some able and sincere materialist, as, for instance, Mr. McCabe, and you will have exactly this unique sensation. He understands everything, and everything does not seem worth understanding. His cosmos may be complete in every rivet and cog-wheel, but still his cosmos is smaller than our world. Somehow his scheme, like the lucid scheme of the madman, seems unconscious of the alien energies and the large indifference of the earth; it is not thinking of the real things of the earth, of the fighting peoples or proud mothers, or first love or fear upon the sea. The earth is so very large, and the cosmos is so very small. The cosmos is about the smallest hole that a man can hide his head in. - G.K. Chesterton
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