Lessons From the Campaign Trail

eyes that see...

“With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.”

John F Kennedy - Inaugural address, January 20th, 1961, last sentence

As my husband and I were winding our way through the Siskiyou Summit, in the county of Jackson, Oregon, we were listening to this song. I have often said that “he hears the music and I hear the words and the music.” We had packed up, for the hundredth time, our old trusty 2006 Ford Econoline van with duffle bags, bikes, an acoustic guitar, food, two dogs and our small portable boombox. Out of all the things to remember, this is the coolest because the van’s am/fm radio cuts in and out, and well.. we just don’t have that c.d. case hanging out anymore under the visor. The boombox, although it can slide all over the dash and sometimes go flying off like a brick, nearly taking out a corgi who spends most of his time with his head on the ice chest between us, provides a much better stereo sound and I can use my Spotify account. It’s the one thing that puts us in the modern loop as we travel back and forth to mom’s house. Our home away from home. Other than that I love how not modern we are.

As I listened to the words, I asked myself if I could stand listening to another politician or political hack speak ever again after the last few years. I can barely stomach my phone anymore let alone listen to the hypocrisy, divisive tone and put-downs from the leader of the free world.

I asked myself what qualities would make me believe that I was living in a righteous and just world? for all. What would warm my heart in a tangible way, make me feel secure, and give me the confidence that it took to trust anyone in government again?

What would Jesus do? I thought.

I believe He would walk our city streets, our rural areas and prioritize the lost souls living without homes, without basic necessities, and without hope. I believe a nation that continues to ignore the dire and growing statistics of poverty, mental illness and/or drug use, is a nation that no matter what unrealistic plans it has for the rest of us, no matter how many bad names and labels good people can be called, will fail and fall flat on it’s face. We have also left our elderly behind.

The most important issues of our time are in the hard work of caring for our weakest, most vulnerable, and most abused souls. They are living under a system that sets people up for failure. Some believe it’s compassionate. I believe it’s far from it.

The separation of people is much like the separation of dogs. Many live just fine, with an abundance of love, food, shelter, water, clothes and Instagram feeds and many live unseen until they die.

Every important problem America has is living and dying on our streets and behind closed doors completely unseen. This knows no particular race, sex, culture, political side or religion.

God’s work truly is our own. People are running out of time. We need to roll up our sleeves, do good work, look around, be a helper, look up, be kind, keep going, keep creating, keep seeking joy and keep hope alive for yourself and for others. Most of all, pray for our country always. We are broken, our leaders are broken and we need help.

I want to say thank you to my youngest son for choosing to leave a law office to dedicate himself to the plight of the unseen and unheard. The mornings might not always fill you with a beautiful dawn, but we can hope to see glimpses of beauty in that dawn. Simple, kind gestures and returned smiles during the day and a peace that one soul, here and there, has been seen and heard.

Show me how to love in the darkest dark… 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

Beautiful Dawn by The Waillin Jennys

“Take me to the breaking of a beautiful dawn
Take me to the place where we came from
Take me to the end so I can see the start
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I don't feel so small
Take me where I don't need to stand so tall
Take me to the edge so I can fall apart
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where love is not for sale
Take me where our hearts are not so frail
Take me where the fire still loans its spark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Teach me how to see when I close my eyes
Teach me to forgive and to apologize
Show me how to love in the darkest dark
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me where the angels are close on hand
Take me where the ocean meets the sky and the land
Show me to the wisdom of the evening star
There's only one way to mend a broken heart

Take me to the place where I feel no shame
Take me where courage doesn't need a name
Learning how to cry is the hardest part
But there's only one way to mend a broken heart”