Observation from the middle…

I can’t resist…I feel I must comment on the yesterday’s election as well as today’s reactions.  Honestly, I found it fascinating.  It was interesting to sit on the fence, watching the reactions of both sides.  I realized that no matter who won this year’s election, someone was going to believe it was the end of the world as we knew it.  Conservatives, liberals, republicans, democrats…it didn’t matter.  People were especially passionate about the election this year.  Even though history projected that the democratic candidate would win.  Honestly, I don’t know that it had much to do with Obama, Biden, McCain or Palin.  It had to do with the fact that people don’t like where the country is right now.  Economy, foreign policy, health care…you name it, we’re not happy about it.  Usually, this means a change of leadership in the next election.  Particularly when one party’s been in power for 2 terms.

And yet…my conservative friends are in shock at the state of our nation’s morality.  My liberal friends are rejoicing in signs that our nation is overcoming its racial barriers.

I watched last night as friends and aquaintances watched the results come in, I saw the concern and anxiety both felt for the nation should the “wrong” man be elected.  And honestly, I wonder…is there such a “wrong” man?  Each man would appoint an administration to provide counsel to the best of their ability.  Each man would make decisions based on what he thought would be the best for the country at the time.  Each man woud make mistakes.  Neither man would hold the power to live up to his promises, after all, he must run the majority of his decisions and initiatives by Congress.

I’m not saying the presidential election doesn’t matter.  I voted for who I believed represented the better overall set of ideas for this nation’s future.  However, I recognize the limitations of one decision and one man, particularly in a nation that values its checks and balances.  I also recognize that this nation is filled with people who will not easily give up that which is dear to them: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Some things will not be changed in 4 years, or even 8.  And after that…the leadership will change and much of life will go on.  America will still be America, ever changing but still inherently the same.

And for this, I am thankful.  I am thankful that we can elect a leader without fear of nation wide riots or political coups. I’m thankful that I could go to sleep last night and wake up this morning to life as it has been.  Nothing radical has changed.  Nothing radical is likely to change come January. I will continue to pray for the nation as I do now.  No more or less furvor.

Put not your trust in princes or sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.  For when his breath departs, he  returns to the dust, and on that very day his plans perish.  –relax, breathe, and realize that life is not over.  It is just beginning.  And this reality would have been the same had the other guy won.

VP debate:

I think I could do this all night…sitting here, watching/listening to Biden & Palin, watching facebook statuses change, IMing friends-about the debate…  Here are some themes of the night:

Palin: Say it ain’t so, Joe!
winking (something in that eye, Palin?)
maverick
Let’s talk about energy!
nuculear…nuclear
ignore the question…then acknowledge you’re ignoring the question
turpitude
certitude

more adventures

So…my roommate and I had an incredibly hard choice to make this evening: religion or politics. More specifically: watch three beloved (or notorious) professors at Asbury College debate politics, or listen to a lecture on Orthodox Monasticism. Laura wanted to watch the professors debate, and while the Orthodox lecture would have been highly interesting…I didn’t feel like driving into town…therefore I joined her in watching both the debate and the wee college students listen to conservative versions of three political parties. Yes…three. Because at Asbury, neither Democrat nor Republican parties are quite conservative enough therefore third option must be presented.The debate was highly informative, however less animated and exciting that I’d hoped it would be. However, one particularly conservative professor (representing above mentioned third party) managed to state: “If several states cannot come to an agreement with the rest of the nation, they should secede.” While I have no problem with states seceding if there is a real cause for it…I doubt that this particular issue (gay marriage) should be the crux of their decision. I did realize more and more that I seldom agree with the party which many Christians believe is the only party a true Christian can side with. (Granted, this was based on the idea that all in the room were Evangelical Christians…) Alas…I am a pagan.However, the adventure didn’t stop there! Oh no…for the debate was not entirely exciting enough for me, therefore I felt I needed to add a bit more excitement to my evening by succeeding in watching my roommate drive away, leaving me alone, in the cold…without my keys. I realized that I did not have my keys in my purse as she was starting to drive away. I anxiously tapped on her window trying to get her attention. She simply smiled, waved at me, and drove off into the snowy night. Yes…it was snowing. And yes…she thought I was just playing around–waving her goodbye as she drove off.A million thoughts ran through my mind at that point. Actually, no. Just two: Do I call her? (yes) Do I leave a message on her voicemail? (no). Finally that second answer changed and I left a message. She, being the incredible roommate that she is, responded immediately without listening to my pathetic message: “So…I don’t have my keys. So if you’re still close can you come back? And if not…then I’ll be waiting until you get home.”Of course, she was already at Kroger and therefore might as well continue her trip. Therefore, I waited. Thankfully, not outside. But I have to admit, I felt pretty pathetic, sitting in the hallway outside my apartment door. Listening to our furnace turn on thinking, “Man, that’s a waste…I’m not even in there to feel the heat it’s putting out.”What can I say? I’m cheap.Thankfully…my tale has a happy ending: Laura came home! Apologizing profusely, might I add. (She’s not a terrible person…quite on the contrary, she’s magnificent! I love you Laura!) With food, nonetheless. So, not only do I now have access to my computer and bed…and the heat we pay for, but we have enough cheese to last us…at least the next couple of days.