Let's Be Honest - Election Day Blues

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I'm not an overly political person. I will always take advantage of my right to vote every 2-4 years. However, you will rarely, if ever, see me start a conversation or maybe even participate in a conversation about politics.

I don't do this because I'm uneducated on politics and think they're stupid. Well, I am pretty uneducated on them, but out of choice rather than out of ignorance. I don't participate because it's not worth my time nor does it accomplish anything except to encourage spite and enmity between individuals.

I don't keep up with politics for the same reason I don't keep up with news channels. I believe most politicians and news stations are pretty much controlled by money and powerful people and companies. I don't believe true and honest change is going to come from largely elected people. I'm a fan of change happening through local elections and through local mercy and service organizations and ministries more so than by macro-politics (I do realize the government makes rules and regulations that may change the way our country is run and even influence the way I live my life. However, these changes will not alter my identity or what I believe.).

By the time people are so well known that they've reached amazing political greatness, and I do mean the kind that culminates in tons of hype and smoke and mirrors, people have basically sold their souls to others who donate money to them, who give them references, and to their political party for supporting them. I don't care which political party you support, this is most likely the case. Then, they must win the hearts of those people with their decisions in order to keep the money and support coming. It's a vicious cycle.

Part of me really pities politicians. They are stuck in a web of trying to keep everyone happy while at the same time trying to make solid decisions for our country. And let's be honest, who is truly qualified to make decisions for all Americans? Who isn't swayed by what people around them are pressuring for or who donate the largest checks, especially if those checks put someone in power? However, these politicians dedicated their lives to trying to this job, so they have brought their anxiety and distress on themselves and their families. I do not envy them.

The other part of me, the part that does not pity politicians, is thankful that at the end of the day, my hope or despair does not come from the outcome of the election today. I will not shake with fear or triumph with a victory dance either way. It's not that I'm apathetic. I'm just not 100% in support of either candidate. However, I am completely confident that neither candidate for president will solve American's problems in the next four years. It's a physical impossibility. Have you noticed how much gray hair they already get just trying to solve one or two problems?

I also believe the general public wastes so much of its time talking about change, hoping for change, and arguing for what needs to be changed in order for our society to be a success, that people miss out on all the opportunities to create and encourage change in their own little world. If people really want to see change, they need to stop arguing about politics and love their neighbor. They need to comfort the people who are fearful and hopeless in their communities. People need to grieve with others at their loss, celebrate with others at success, feed others when they cannot feed themselves, and love those who seem impossible to love. This is change - unconditional love in a world governed by conditions, stipulations, and rules. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is Love. He loves the unlovable. He desires real change in people and works to see that happen.

Today I'll go and vote for state officials. I may even vote for president. But I am confident that no matter what the election brings, the world will not end nor suddenly be saved from its problems or potential problems. Wars will continue to be fought, poverty will continue to cry in hunger, and success will continue to flourish.  The 99% will continue to be the 99% (Only 1% of the population will ever be the richest 1% of the population - It's a mathematical law.). There is nothing we can do individually to stop this. But we can create change around us. We can love others, rehabilitate others, and work to see lives changed if we just step off our soap box and out into our community. Our neighbors are waiting.

Let's Be Honest - Habits

I'm 26-years-old and I still bite my fingernails. I've never once used fingernail clippers on them. Never.

I like my bad habits. I like biting my nails, chewing gum at all moments, and putting my elbows on the table during dinner. There is something comfortable about our own habits. While they may be unacceptable or social faux pax, they are familiar, comfortable, and homey.

Isn't that why we don't give them up —why we won't give up picking at scabs, constantly checking our phones for new updates, or twirling our hair? They are our comfort. It's what we do when we're on a long car ride and can't sit still. It's the way we clean the refrigerator out when we're stressed. It's a habit, a comfort mechanism. It's wasting all the hours watching Netflix or meandering through Pinterest or BuzzFeed. We love what we know.

It's funny the way we crave our own habits, no matter how disgusting or random they may be, but we are frustrated by or downright hate those of people around us. For instance, I absolutely do not mind when I leave my clothes (habitually) on the chair in mine and Tyler's bedroom. It's near my bed, it's convenient if I don't feel like putting clothes up, which happens regularly, and I can just pick and choose from clothes. This happens especially if I've worn something once but it's not quite dirty enough to go in the laundry hamper.

However, Tyler cannot stand when the chair looks like a clothes pile instead of a chair. And I cannot stand when he takes off his shoes in the doorway to our room, which I inevitably trip over. I can understand him taking his shoes off — hallelujah! I'm home from work and getting comfortable — but at the same time, I cannot stand falling all over his size 11's every time I walk in the room.

Don't get me wrong, we all idealize getting rid of our bad habits. We all think the world would be better if we put our clothes away immediately or worked on that project, exercised, or spent time with friends. However, we cling to what we know, not willing to change, not willing to grasp that ideal.

They say it takes 30 days of not doing something in order to break a habit. I didn't bite my fingernails for 2 months this past summer, and I'm back to biting them down to the quick. It may be that I'm under more stress now that I'm teaching again, it may be that I wish I had long fingernails to paint beautiful fall colors, but I'm still biting them.

Why do we stop ourselves from the process of change? I think it's because of shortsightedness. We choose to only see what is in front of us right now instead of thinking about the long term. Instead of thinking of what we're called to do, how we are called to live, who we are called to live, we think about the latest episode of whatever show is "in" right now or what color to dye our hair. And we find comfort in the habits we know because we're ignoring other important things.

Just some thoughts about habits and why I don't like to change.