I am Sitting This One Out

I am getting ready to turn off the computer. Not because I am too nervous to watch cable and read websites and blog the election, but because I am tired and I have things to do before bed, and I have no interest in what is happening at the polls. Once again, I have to say how grateful I am. I don’t understand it at all, but I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth. For years I have not slept well, so I am very sensitive to my need for sleep, and I resent anything that keeps me up late. I am extremely pleased to know I won’t be getting out of bed to check the TV at 3 a.m.

It has occurred to me that this could mean our prayers for a McCain victory are going to be answered in the affirmative, and that somewhere inside me, I know better than to worry. On the other hand, it could be the result of a deep realization that I am becoming separate from the world, and that my security comes from God, not politicians.

I would say I have been conservative since about 1980. But since the mid-80s I’ve been more of a religious conservative than a political conservative. I mean that I’ve been conservative mainly because Christianity is inherently conservative. A lot of confused liberal Christians think the personal generosity and forgiveness taught in the Gospels is somehow supposed to be applied through government. That’s crazy, because forcing the government to practice virtue for us, and to take our money to practice it, deprives us of the ability to decide to be virtuous on our own. It takes the virtue out of virtue, by making it compulsory and not heartfelt. It also deprives us of money we could direct to God’s work. Jesus would not have approved of drug abuse, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, civil disobedience, immodest dress, profanity, high taxes, or socialism, and he encouraged his disciples to go about armed with swords. He would have fit in better in Texas than in Massachusetts. His respective influence and presence in those states probably reflects that.

I think that in the past I worried too much about man’s efforts to influence the world through politics, and not enough about getting my own life in order so that I would not rely so much on our government to protect me. It’s very important to vote for politicians whose policies are least offensive to God, but in the end, the only way to take care of yourself and your family is to put your religious duties first and exercise faith. So I voted and cajoled and prayed and fasted, but I am not going to worry. I am going to be all right, and I will have the power to help others get in the lifeboat with me, over the course of my remaining years. I wish I could be sure I would continue to live in a nation blessed with prosperity and security; a nation which nurtures Christianity and protects the Jews and pleases God. But other nations have fallen and lost their blessings, and I accept the fact that America may be beginning to deteriorate at an accelerated rate. Maybe we’ll end up like France. As far as I know, Israel is the only nation destined to endure forever. I’m glad I got to see America in its glory. If the destroyers and wasters and barbarians manage to loot her until she falls, at least I’ll have memories of an America that is beyond their reach.

My advice to you is to turn off the TV, turn off the PC, pray, and go to bed early. And if you can’t do it, maybe you need to ask yourself where you can find the strength next time.