So again I ask, “Where is character and leadership in one person?” Where is a potential president who knows where he wants to take the country, how to get there, and can get people to rally to his vision? Should we find that person, will he, or she, possess enough courage of his convictions to refuse to sacrifice them before the altar of political expediency? Will he be a man of prayer and have enough wisdom, humility and fear of God to know that he needs godly counselors? Will his heart hold enough of God’s love and compassion to deal with his political adversaries with fairness and respect? Will he be a standard bearer and not a standard breaker?
I’d have despaired of ever having such a leader if I had not seen the promise in our church’s young people and the way their parents are diligently and purposefully raising them. In a culture that has made a parent’s job nearly impossible, they have made training their children’s character Job One. Then they have recognized their kids’ God-given bent and call, and gently guided them in that direction, all the while teaching them to love, obey and enjoy God with all their hearts. This is a winning strategy, and all heaven is cheering on these parents and others like them, because more is at stake than we could possible know. They and their children have given us all hope for the future.
In the dim valleys of the daily grind of raising a family, it must be easy for parents to lose sight of the loftier peaks of their own calling as parents of tomorrow’s kingdom builders. If you are a parent, let God reveal them to you afresh, and be encouraged, because you, and others like you, are raising standard bearers who just may be the ones to lead this nation, in their different fields, out of the morass of mediocrity into God’s fuller expression of righteousness and justice, truth and mercy. Who knows but that among your kids there is a future president or two.
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I can relate; it seems like all political news is bad news. Democratic candidates are parading around, being measured to see who is the biggest minority, Republican candidates are being judged on how uncharismatic and opportunistic they are. No one is really debating the really important issues, as if afraid to approach the topics of sanctity of life, just war, personal freedom, the scope of government, etc. I do see hope in my generation and particularly the one after mine. We're sick of choosing between republicans and democrats, and are heavily looking to third parties to fill our perceived needs. With technology as such a key role in our lives, we've grown tired of politicians who are ignorant of how it all works. We're tired of how easily politicians are bought and sold. We're tired of decisions being "either-or" rather than on a spectrum. We're tired of mudslinging, and we're tired of politicians who have muddy pasts that make it possible.
ReplyDeleteI think regardless of what happens next year, it will be the last election in which things can remain as they always have. Americans are looking for someone real, someone that is honest and open, a choice between candidates that clearly delineate where they stand. The upcoming generations are divergent, being either more extreme to the left or more extreme to the right. While extremes aren't neccessarily good, it will at least get people to CARE again, which is the biggest problem. With more people voting for the next American Idol than the next American President, the problem may not be with the voters as much as the perceived lack of reason to even visit the polls anymore. Either way, the future looks better, and all we need do is pray the next few terms don't mess things up beyond repair.