I hate politics...

                          We were watching this mornings news, before the bus came to transport my two eldest McMonkeys to the primate cages of our local scholastic zoo, and the pundits were talking about refugees and places like Belgium and that New Year's Eve fiasco, earlier this year. 

                                                Soon, questions came my way.

                            It was kind of nice speaking with people that have no preconceived notions or prejudices on political issues, but equally difficult to express the depth of sadness I feel in realizing that the only ones who seem to have that now, are pre adolescent kids...

                               I struggle to present facts to my children like the real, old school journalists used to do.

                                                       "Just the facts, ma'am..."

                                                       Not tainted by my prejudices...

                                                       

                                                         Oh, how I hate politics.

                 

                                     I have my views. They are the views of a fifty something -year old blue collar white male, raised in a conservative Catholic, two parent household, in upstate New York.

                                      They have been shaped by many hard lessons of rebellion, defeat and the consequences thereof. Some were tempered in the military and others in back alleys...

                                 Most have been compared and questioned, set beside my Christian Faith, which is my end all- yardstick of right and wrong...

                                                 So of course, I am  extremely biased...

                                    Sheepishly, I find myself admitting that I don't know what side of this earthly election I should stand on. I compare what I see and hear on all of the cable channels and find every single one of them lacking...

                                      Do I vote for someone that is anti abortion, who coldly turns away starving and victimized children? Do I align myself with those who would help the poor, but may turn out to be terrible stewards of our countries assets? Someone who supports on demand abortion?

                                Or someone politically qualified, but having no respect or trust from the military they would command?

                                      How does a Christian approach such a debacle?

                               Do we climb into our pristine bubbles and ignore our civic responsibility, abstaining from the entire circus? 

                                                                    Can we?

                                                             Can we, please???

                                                                I'm thinking not...

                                               What I find myself looking for in all of these candidates, is the kind of humility that would leave them open to hearing a whispering God.

                                      I'm not looking for strength or unbridled arrogance; not back room savvy or a warriors might. All I am looking for is a person that may have a smidgen of doubt about the illusion of their own infallibility...

                                       Still teachable, I think are the words I'm looking for...     

                                           Maybe I'm just looking for the one with the best heart. The one who empathizes and advocates for the people that Jesus did, when He walked this little round ball...

                                       I'm guessing that is pretty naive, in a world like this; years ago, I would have laughed at anyone using such considerations. Today, not so much...

                                            I want to elect somebody reachable.

                          Not by me or by lobbyists. Not even by our populaces culture; simply reachable to an ego crushing Gods nudges and gentle direction...

                                          That's the guy ( or gal ) that I'm looking for...

                                                               I hate politics.

                                                            It gives me no hope. 

                         People though, reachable people, help me to think that maybe we can listen...

                                             Listening precedes understanding.

                                              Understanding precedes Wisdom.

                                                                  Wisdom...

                                       Let's just say this country can surely use that...