Time to point a finger

Okay, we're finally nearing the end of this election and I feel like it's finally time to point a finger at the real problem. It's the Demogans....I mean the Republicats....it's those other guys!

Isn't that just like mankind, to try and point a finger at someone and say they are to blame for our troubles. It's not new, this kind of behavior goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve blamed the snake and Adam blamed Eve...that woman that God gave him. Gee, I guess he was really trying to blame God. But as humans, we never want to say those awful words..."It's my fault."

I see this behavior all the time in a classroom. When work isn't done, students are quick to make excuses (and usually blame their parents for keeping them out so late. Don't worry, we rarely believe it's the parent's fault.) If they are doing something wrong in class, they are always eager to deflect the blame by pointing the finger at someone else. "He did it first!" When that happens, my mother's words always come to mind- "When you point a finger at someone else, you have three pointing back at yourself." That got me thinking. Is it possible that in this time of national crisis, we need to realize that we have three fingers pointing back at ourselves?

Oh, I know. It's not our fault. We're not in charge. Funny thing is, I thought we were a country of "We the people." The government does have a lot of power, but maybe it's time we start admitting that a lot of what's going wrong is our own fault. We have bowed to the gods of convenience and comfort. We want what we want when we want it. Delayed gratification isn't an option. We have stretched ourselves thin and when things go wrong, as they are known to do, we are unprepared. We've shouted and worried, but have we really prayed? In the Bible, God promised that if His people who are called by His name will humble themselves and seek His face then He will hear from heaven and heal our land.

Maybe it's about taking responsibility for our actions and our IN-action. It's about making our children accountable for their actions when they do wrong. It's about time we stopped doing what is easy and started doing what is right. It's about realizing that we have been guaranteed the right for the pursuit of happiness. Happiness isn't really a destination, it's a journey.

I, along with many others, am worried about the direction this country is headed, both financially and morally. But I can't stand back and figure it's someone else's responsibility. I can't point the finger and shift the blame no matter how bleak the future looks. Much like the character of George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life", I have to accept that sometimes life doesn't give me what I wanted. I can't quit or point a finger at someone else. In that movie, there is one point where Uncle Billy loses the Savings and Loans deposit. George doesn't point a finger at Uncle Billy, in stead he says "I have lost the money." Even though he was completely innocent, he took the blame. You don't see that kind of integrity very often any more.

I wonder if I can have that kind of integrity. Am I willing to stand and make a difference in the world that I come in contact with every day? It may mean standing up to those in power and making my voice heard and then doing everything I can to make the world around me a better place. It may mean that life is uncomfortable sometimes. In all this, I have to believe that ultimately, what I do makes a difference. Remember in that movie how different things would have been if George had never been born?

I will vote this coming election day, and when the voting is done, I will support whomever becomes my president - even if he's not my choice. Then everyday that follows, I will do my best to remember, the finger that points toward the one responsible is really pointing back at me. I doubt I'll ever change Washington, but maybe I can change the street where I live.

"Choose you this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" - no matter who wins the election.