By Grace

I am an American! I am an AMERICAN! I live in the greatest most jacked up country in the world. But last night Americans changed the world view and and simply became THE GREATEST country on earth. Not because we elected a black man, but because we voted for CHANGE! A new direction, a new chapter, a new life begins in the country as of today.

Four-hundred and fifty-three years after the first recorded black man set foot on this soil and 43 presidents later, America elects an AMERICAN. A melting pot unto himself. This is history, this is the future, this is DESTINY.

I salute you America. And I salute you Mr. President. President Barack Obama....YES WE DID!

Today I veer into to a subject I rarely go into. However, this morning I am decidedly miffed. Too miffed in fact, NOT comment THIS ONE time. I have always had the privilege to vote. But there are many who can not share that sentiment. I have always had the right to choose. Still not so for many more than we would like to name. I am proud to live in a "free society" such as it is, but I am NOT proud of some of those who make up that society.

 

Four years ago, an eloquent, virtually unknown-on the national stage- man gave one of the most dynamic speeches of our time. He impowered, inspired, and electrified a captive audience. Although I was already familiar with him, that was the moment I said, "this guy should run for president". Around that same time, there was another fellow, a "maverick" if you will, who did everything seemingly possible to undercut and undermine THE WORST president in our nations history. They never saw eye-to-eye on many things up until, that is, the political winds started to change. From that time on the "maverick" started to turn more and more into a monkey in a suit. Turning all kinds of tricks to stay in the "good graces" of the powers that be, in order to further position himself as "sell-able". My respect for him began to fade, but still I held out hope for the return of the "maverick".

 

Few know and even fewer have ever asked, just assumed my political affiliation. Well, let me inform you now that locally (i.e. my state) I vote almost exclusively Republican...Close your mouth and put your eyes back in your head. However, nationally I am quite independent leaning towards Democrat. But 4 years ago had anyone told me that the "maverick" would be running for president, I would have immediately told you he had my vote.

 

And there I have come back to my point. The vote. My vote matters. My ONE vote counts, no matter how much people will try to make me believe it does not. MY ONE VOTE, THAT ONE means something. It means that I have chosen someone that I can trust to stand in where I and the rest of "joe-public" can not. I do NOT want the LEADER of MY country to just like me. Why, because I CAN NOT run the country. I need the LEADER to be BETTER than me, MORE knowledgeable about what's going on and BETTER equipped to handle ALL the stress and pressure of LEADING the country.

 

Over the past month, the "maverick" has exhibited some astounishing behavior. None more so than at last nights town-hall debate. If one was undecided 45 days ago, certainly one had to scratch their head and acknowledge that one was a bit concerned about the choice of a running mate merely for the fact that she is female. Not insulted by that grab for the "Hillary constituency"? Ok.. So two weeks ago, it didn't grab you as off-putting that a candidate would "suspend" his campaign because of....huh? The reason does not matter. The future President of the "free-world" can not walk and chew bubble gum at the same time?...Ok. Well some people are more forgiving than others..

But last night just topped the cake, with the little bride and groom and flowers and ALL! Let us start with the outright disdain and disrespect shown to his opponent. Continued snipes and innuendo, but skirting the issues. Let us move on to the "gold cadillac" comment about health care. Now, really people..WHERE was he going with THAT ONE? And let us just hold steady for just a moment at the thumb gesture and "that one" comment...

 

Let us be honest, how many were waiting on him to just go on and call him the N-word? THAT ONE? Seriously? SERIOUSLY? He was flustered and irritated, unhinged and grasping. Is THAT the one you want to LEAD YOUR country? I certainly do not want some over-the-top cowboy shooting off at some foreign dignitary that has control of nuclear weapons or is a major benefactor of some terrorist faction. If the "maverick" can not contain his ire and displeasure with a fellow countrymen, what is THAT ONE going to do with someone he REALLY does not like? All respect went out the window for the "maverick" who has shown himself to be unworthy to lead me or even himself out of a bad situation.

 

This November 4th I will get up extra early to make sure I am the FIRST to vote. My one vote will reverberate off the walls of the white house for generations to come.

THAT ONE will make a difference one way or another. I will vote, for

 

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

and

THAT ONE

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

and

THAT ONE

 

and

THAT ONE

 

 and I WILL VOTE for

 

THAT ONE

 

There was a song that freedom marchers used to sing, "We shall overcome...some day." Well I do believe, deep in MY heart...YES WE CAN!

 

 

 

As the seasons change sometimes it helps to reflect on the changing seasons in our lives. Some of us never reflect, some only when its put before us, and only then for a brief moment, and the rest may be a bit too reflective. But humor me this and bear with me as I ask us all to just stop and think for a moment...

Think for a moment on the person you have assigned the title "best friend". Do you have one? Would you like one? Have you ever had one? Was/Is this person truly for you? Did they encourage, inspire, motivate, elevate, tolerate, aggravate, push you, pull you kicking and screaming through your foolishness. Did they listen with sympathy, act with empathy, and then tell you off with just the right amount of apathy when you were wallowing in self pity? When you've been at your lowest, whether you acted on it or not, was this the person you looked to or called on for help?

Think for a moment on the person you trust the most. Have they kept your secrets even at their own expense? Have they defended you even in your wrong? Have they come to your rescue even when you didn't deserve it? If you closed your eyes and took a leap, would they leap with you and hold your hand,stand ready to break your fall, or would they be there to pick you up and dust you off?

Think for a moment on all the wrong you've done. The things that only you know about. The things that you wouldn't tell God if he didn't already know it. Have you asked for forgiveness? From the person or persons you may have wronged, even if you felt they deserved it? Even if you never confessed? Have you forgiven yourself?

Think for a moment on the lies you've told. "Justified" or not did it really advance you further in the "game of life" or did it pull you further down the road of self destruction? Did you feel remorseful or vindicated when your lie was believed and you thought you'd gained and "advantage"?

Think for a moment on your greatest disappointment. Did it stem from you or someone else? And if you really thought long enough and hard enough would you find that even though you may have blamed someone else for your disappointment you really disappointed yourself through your actions or inaction? When someone let's us down, isn't it up to us to stand back up?

Think for a moment on your dreams. Do you have any? Have you ever had just one? What did you do about it? Who hindered you? Who encouraged your dreams? Who helps you remember you ever had any at all? Is it ever too late to chase it, even if you never catch up to it? Langston Hughes famously posited the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" Have you let yours dry up?

Think for a moment on your goals. No, a goal and a dream are different things. A goal is a line in the sand that you can cross with the right amount of effort and planning. Have you put forth any effort or even made a plan? The thing about goals is that line can be erased and redrawn anywhere.

Think for a moment on what you believe. Do you believe? Do you believe in anything or anyone? Do you believe in yourself? If not then who else will or should? Do you believe in a god? Do you believe in a living God? Do you believe in heaven or hell? Do you believe in love? Do you believe that strength comes from within, but it's what you have put within that gives you the most power?

Think for a moment about what you know. Did you know that you can't know and believe at the same time? If you know a thing then the case is closed. If you believe a thing then you are working in faith and most times our faith can be shaken. Do you know yourself or just believe you do? Do you know the Risen Savior or just want others to believe you do? Do you know that on judgement day it won't be about what YOU believe but what HE knows is in your heart?

Think for a moment about the world today. Approximately 13 years ago, I read an article about a woman in Detroit who was snatched from a car, beaten with sticks and pipes and fists in the middle of traffic on a busy bridge. She was eventually forced to jump to her death. There were more than 30 witnesses to this crime yet no one could or would identify the assailants. That was someone's daughter, sister, mother, friend. That day I wept for a stranger a thousand miles away. I cut out that clipping and saved it for many years.
Since then there was the story of a nine-year old boy who got caught up in a gang and ended up being executed and mutilated to make a point. School shootings too numerous to name, the World Trade center attacks, mothers killing their own babies, a war without a justifiable name, and at least 10 more missing children a week. We see the news and shake our heads and continue on with our lives. No one weeps for strangers anymore. Even if it happens in our own families, we have become so numb to the tragedy and atrocity that it's business as usual by the time the grave is covered with dirt.

Think for a moment about what matters most to you. Seriously take a look at your life. The actions of you life. Of course we all say that our loved ones are the most important but do your actions back that up? Do you work too much trying to provide things to prove your love to the outside world as well as the ones within? Do you call or write often enough to the ones you say are most dear? Do you spend time just listening to the breeze on a spring day or marveling at the rain? Do your kids scramble for you attention constantly and you can't figure out why when you give them "everything" they ask for? If you lost all your things today but still had your dear ones with you would you be ok with that? Or would you be on a hustle to "make it right"? In this information age, how often do you reach out on a personal level rather than via email or text? When was the last time you hand wrote a note to someone special? Do you spend more time shopping for a new pair of shoes than you do having a meaningful conversation with your mother? We all say "I love you" but do we SHOW it?

Sometimes it's good to just think.....for a moment.


VMJ original

Happy S.A.D