So many people have been talking about the economy and the election lately and I purposely stay away from conversations on public policy here. So many others are much more eloquent than I, and I don't love 'fighting' about these things. Everyone has an opinion; everyone is entitled to an opinion, and more than likely no one is going to be swayed one way or another by mine.
I am not freaking out about the election or the economy. I have found that whomever the president is does not change my day to day life very much. There is a congress that (supposedly) keeps things in check, and a judicial system that does so as well. Whether I agree with every policy or not doesn't matter-I probably never will, and neither will you.
Headless Dad and I have tried hard to make good decisions with our money. We didn't buy more house than we could afford, and we got a good, old-fashioned, 30 year mortgage when we bought our 'new-to-us' house 6 years ago. We paid off cars years ago and spend the money to maintain them so they run well. (Did you hear that mini-van? I take care of you, so you'd better continue to do the same.)
The bonus we have is this: whatever we have in this life, or don't have in this life is not ours anyway. I rest each night, whether the stock market is up or down, on God's promises for my life. Matthew 16:19-21 NIV says:
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Think about that for a minute. What we are told here is that this life is temporary-riches, need, health, sickness-it is all temporary, and pales in comparison to what we will have when we get to heaven. Then in Philippians 4:19 we are reminded that God will always take care of us-no matter what. Do you remember the Israelites that had to wander in the dessert for 40 years? God always gave them food and water to survive-He promised and He delivered. That means that if we are wise with our money and follow biblical principals we will always have enough.
The definition of enough does not necessarily include a beach house, a boat, and brand new luxury cars. Just so you know.
Neither candidate, unfortunately, believes in all of the things that I believe in. I'm sure that neither candidate wants to hurt our country. Unfortunately, I believe that our country is too far gone from our basic founding principals that one man cannot dream of making a difference in 4 years, no matter how hard he tries. The only thing that can do that is all of us on our knees pleading with God to change us-change our hearts, change us from the inside out, and pass that change on to our neighbors, our states, and our government.
That is not to say 'don't vote'-far from it. A friend passed along this wisdom last week: "Vote from the bottom of your ballot up." This means that the issues on the bottom of the ballot are more likely to change your life, your situation, your neighborhood, than the people/issues on the top. I urge you to vote-we should all be voting because if we don't then we are letting a few people govern and choose for all of us. As a people we fought for representation in government and as a people we should honor our founding fathers, our military men and women, and our representatives by casting a ballot. That is what God-given freedom is all about.
All Bible links courtesy of Bible Gateway, New International Version.
5 comments:
I love this, Headless Mom. In a lot of ways, this is what I'm feeling around this election and the current economy too. (Even though my husband and I weren't as smart financial choices. At least we are on the road to change and I am not scared.)
Excellent, thoughtful post. I spend a lot of time when I vote, because I want to make sure I'm making the right choices for how I feel about the issues. I try to educate myself about the bills and referendums and candidates to the best of my ability, both pro and con. I try to avoid listening to what any advertisements say. In fact, my wife told a story that she heard from our daughter. Seems the kids at school are all drawing lines about the election and someone asked a kid who he was voting for or something and he said and they asked why and he said "Because a commercial on TV said the other guy X." My oldest - I'm so proud - basically said you can't believe anything advertisements say. :) And that's so crucial to making up your own mind.
And part of that is knowing what you don't know, knowing what it is that you have yet to learn. Then learning that, or at least something about that, and making your decision that way.
BTW, I sleep at night whatever the market does because I pretty much don't have any horses in that race! :D (well, that's either worth a laugh or a cry...we'll see come retirement time....)
really well said babe. kiss
These are great points, and important reminders as everyone is getting so riled up about the election.
I love this bit So many people have been talking about the economy and the election lately and I purposely stay away from conversations on public policy here. So many others are much more eloquent than I, and I don't love 'fighting' about these things. Everyone has an opinion; everyone is entitled to an opinion, and more than likely no one is going to be swayed one way or another by mine.
You actually sound like me. I never tell anyone who I am voting for and try to stay away from those discussions. If I do get pulled in, I can usually talk both sides of the equation.
Thanks for encouraging people to vote!
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