Just Listen to that...

Can you hear it?

Listen carefully?

I knew it would finally come, it just took awhile. But now the sound is pretty nice.

It's commercials about cars and soap and feminine hygiene products. I'll take these any day instead of the attack ads from political candidates. They are finally over!

It makes me wonder who these people are who run for office when they are so caught up in telling us just how bad their opponents are. Is it a cover up for their own deficiencies? Probably. American politicians have saddened me, because in many cases the one who gets elected is the lesser of two evils! And that's not the way the system is supposed to work. If we truly have a representative government (at least that's the idea.) then I don't like what our candidates say about the people they are representing! It doesn't say much about us.

So, we elect people who are willing to bash their opponents, develop suspicion and attack the character of people in their own district. (who they will represent if they win!) Is this what we have become? Is this a reflection of us? Or have we created a monster in the politics and politicians of this nation?

I didn't plan to get into a political debate this morning, rather to check our morals and standards against those who are supposed to represent us and against the standards God has required of us.

What does God require of us?

"...He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously." (Micah 6:8, The Message)

God wants us to be fair. A just life is one that rises above the junk of this world, that looks after the needs of others as much as for the self. It is life according to the golden rule, respect, and honor. It's a life of hospitality and welcome. It is a life of defense, but not defending the self, rather the neighbor. That's fair in God's way.

God wants us to be compassionate. Something that compassion is not is harmful. The Hippocratic Oath a doctor lives by states, "I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous." In other words, to do no harm and to perform service that shows compassion. It was written by Hippocrates around 400 B.C., long before Jesus taught how to love God's way. Compassion is the way to be more fully human in the way God created us to be.

God simply requires us to love, in action!

Okay, so many of the politicians don't represent us very well. At least they don't give us a very good example. But they should remind us that we are to live differently, not because it's the way we are, but it's the way we want to be, the way God wants us to be...

...just, compassionate, loving...

...just like God.


Peace ><>
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