Posted by
Pastor Ray on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 4:00:00 AM
It is clear that American politics has been for some time now the theater of the ridiculous. Confronted with the ubiquitous media frenzy surrounding each election cycle, we as voters have the arduous task of trying to decide for whom to vote. Yet one theme is common in all elections – change. We love to hear that word. Notice the excitement and passion that elevates in you when you hear someone seeking your vote for public office promise you change. We are enamored with the concept of change. Every challenger says we need change, although all he or she intends to change is the nameplate on the office door. Sometimes we do not even need or want change, but it is like the security blanket we have grown fond of over the years.
Why is the American body politic so obsessed with change? My thought is that we are so accustomed to being spoiled by our political leaders that we expect them to really improve our lot in life. After all, we seem to prefer caterers not problem solvers. Many of us believe our government is established to “make things better” for us. Never mind the fact that I did not finish my education, quit every job that I had because the “boss did not like me”, decided to be a recreational drug user, engaged in sexual promiscuity, and feel like I am “owed” something because of the suffering my forefathers endured in an America very different than today; I want my elected officials to improve my life. Have we become a nation of people dedicated and committed to having someone else be responsible for our improvement? If that is the case, at least we could give these elected folks a bit more with which they can work their change magic.
I happen to think that real positive change only comes when you and I decide that we are not satisfied with the decisions we have made and determine to alleviate the consequences by applying a different set of decision-making criteria. For example, at this point in my life, having lived through the disco revolution, and the rise, fall and subsequent rise again of the Afro; I decided to go back to college. I needed change, not just change that I could believe in, but also change that by the grace of the Almighty I could make happen. I did not call my government to see what their contribution to my effort would be, nor did I expect a check saying, “Hey, let us pay”. I expected to study hard, save my money, change my spending habits to accommodate my goal, and then reap the reward of my endeavors.
That is not to say that every person will have the same level of success. It simply means that for real change to occur in America we must all aspire to the same level of effort. We must stop coddling those who fail to try, and help those who extend themselves beyond their limitations, refusing to release their dreams to the sea of self-pity. As Jack Nicholson said, “we can’t handle the truth”. Is life tough? Yes. Is it sometimes unfair? Yes. However, it is equally affirmative that this country offers more opportunity to all people than any in the world. If we cannot succeed at trying, then we will certainly fail at succeeding. Let us refrain from blaming others for our failures in order to perpetuate their guilt and begin to build solid futures by harvesting our own untapped potential. Perhaps we all can believe in that change.