Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Wise words (not mine)

I'm still foggy, still in the land of the post-nasal drip, still wondering what the heck a histamine is and whether I need to be blocking it. How is it possible that I'm too unsophisticated to understand my own medicine cabinet??? ARGH.

On a brighter note, today is Super Tuesday, with primary voting going on all across the nation. I don't usually blog about politics, because it can lead me into an ugly pit of my own worst temptations: judgment, self-righteousness, delusions of grandeur...all rather inappropriate sentiments for a girl who can't tell the difference between Benadryl and Robitussin.

But I saw this post on David Kuo's blog today, and it made me happy. It's a wise reminder of what this election is...and what it isn't. So whether you're delighted with today's outcome or disappointed, here's some hope. And that, above all, is what I need when I think about what's going on in the world right now. Here's what David had to say:

"[T]he person who wins in November...will be powerless against the great challenges we really face. They cannot touch the emptiness too many Americans feel or the depression. They cannot touch broken marriages and broken people. They cannot stop obesity. They cannot touch loneliness. They cannot really stop abortions or domestic abuse and they cannot make broken people whole. They cannot touch the neighbor across the street who is old and who has no friends. The person who wins will not be America's savior.

This is an important thing to acknowledge for political and for spiritual reasons.

Politically it is important because if our expectations of the next president are too great we will only experience crushing disappointment and that man or woman will only be tossed out of office a failed president. We have to temper our expectations.

Spiritually it is important because we cannot fall into the tempter's trap of believing politics is the answer and that if we simply do politics better or with more passion we can save the world. Politics can't save the world. God can."

10 comments:

Dawn said...

I just went and read his whole post. Thanks for sharing this, Trish. His words are so true.

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic piece of wisdom, I love this! Thanks for sharing.

xox

Patti said...

i have often thought of god wishing we could get it...it's not politics, it's not religion, it's not even chocolate. it's god that we are searching for. he's our home.

Allie said...

So true.

LEstes65 said...

Good to remember. Too many people are deifying the candidates. And if you're worried about not knowing the diff between antihistimine and decongestant, just think that I don't even know how to spell deifying.

*My kid's doc tells me I can give my boys both Benadryl and Sudafed. So far, that combo is all that has been helping Lil' Bro with his amazing nasal congestion.

Anonymous said...

Ok, so here's the deal. an advance copy of your book made it to my desk last week. had there not been a big white sticker covering the frog with a kiss, i probably would not have read it or taken it with me.

one subway delay and a free seat later, i was reading your book.

and i have to say: I LOVE IT. i just took a pseudo-break with my boyfriend and i was in pieces, so i read the first chapter and called up all of my friends: "okay, this book says x y and z about life and love. this chick is me in a nutshell. now i don't know if i should stop reading or keep going."

especially when you talk about college days, i can completely relate in some off-beat way.

i'm nearly halfway done now. i tried not to go to your website, but i just had to. and then i saw steve. hmmm. i wonder what happens next:P hahah!!

either way, i have a whole bunch of friends lined up to read your book because i enjoy it that much!

with love~
p. livingston

Holly Kennedy said...

I'm commenting about the comment above...

I'm jealous! I'd love to read a copy of your book asap. Wish one would land on my desk!!

P.S. Hope you feel better soon

LEstes65 said...

Woah woah woah. How is it there are advanced copies of your book and one isn't in my impatient little fist right now? HMMMMM????

Now I'm really starting to rethink my plans to get your name tattood on my OTHER arm.

*hmph*

L Sass said...

What a great post.

Just like every problem we have in this country and in our lives can't be blamed on a single politician or party, neither can every problem be solved by a politician or party. As we get caught up in the competition, it's good to remember that.

Jane said...

It's going to be such an interesting race, for sure. These candidates are really making people talk about some obvious tough choices...it's hard NOT to talk politics these days.

I can't say enough about Tiger Balm. It comes in a little jar and it's so powerful that it will open up your nasal passages immediatley. It's such a great alternative to those yucky medications that make you feel like a 5 year old :) Just sayin'....