This is not a political blog site, but Christians live in a highly politicized atmosphere in all parts of the globe  including America.  The politics of a nation are the purview of a blog site whose title is Living as Apprentices (of Jesus) and whose tagline is “becoming like Jesus for the sake of others.”

Last week was supposedly Donald Trump’s “worst week yet.” I have a feeling that most weeks in the future will bear that title. I strongly believe the survival of our democracy is at risk. This president (“king” in his own mind) continually spews disrespect and hatred no matter who the intended the audience  might be. The flood of lies about major issues and inconsequential facts continues to fuel distrust of anything he might say or any belief he might sign onto for the moment. His addiction to being LOVED and slavishly complimented motivates every action he takes.   

So . . . I sat in my recliner on a Sunday afternoon and wondered what is to become of us all. How can we sustain hope for our country in an atmosphere of narcissism, fear, personal aggrandizement, chaos, and confusion? In despair, I pawed through the magazines on the end table and ended up with the 500th issue of The Sun, a magazine I highly recommend. The August issue features a long section entitled “One Nation, Indivisible,” which features interviews and articles from the magazine from 1974 to the present, as well as “Sunbeams,” a representation of quotes from past issues.  There I  found my marching orders:

“I love the story about A.J. Muste, who, during the Vietnam War, stood in front of the White House night after night with a candle – sometimes alone.  A reporter interviewed him one evening as he stood their in the rain. “Mr. Muste,” the reporter said, “do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle. A.J. responded, “Oh, I don’t do this to change the country, I do this so the country won’t change me” (Andrea Ayvazian).

“Realize that for every ongoing war and religious outrage and environmental devastation and bogus Iraqi attack plan [substitute ISIS or Afghanistan], there are a thousand counterbalancing acts of staggering generosity and humanity and art and beauty happening all over the world right now, on a breathtaking scale from flower box to cathedral. . . .  Resist the temptation to drown in fatalism, to shake your head and just throw in the karmic towel. . . . Realize that this is the perfect moment to change the energy of the world, to step right up and crank up your personal volume; right when it all seems dark and bitter and offensive and acrimonious and conflicted and bilious . . . . there’s your opening” (Mark Morford).

So – – here’s my “candle in the rain” to make sure that this “country won’t change me.” And this is me cranking up “my personal volume.” And this is our “opening:”  Our voices for truth, love, and justice must be heard. Never stop speaking up or against! Don’t let our vitriolic political struggles change you or the way you treat people. And be one of those “counterbalancing acts of staggering generosity and humanity” right where you live.