A Matter of Perspective
by Karin L. Nauber
I don’t consider myself a very political person. I try my best to support whomever makes it into office even if I don’t agree with them on all they do or on their platform.
I don’t like to argue about politics because my basic feeling is that politics and politicians as a rule are corrupt. I want to make it clear that I am not referring to our area representation like city councils, school boards, commissioners.
But after that, the landscape gets fuzzy, at best.
I don’t think many of our politicians go into office with the idea that they are going to be corrupt—I think it just happens.
There is a lot of game-playing that goes on. I think we can all agree on that—even the politicians will agree on that.
There is a lot of “I’ll support your thing if you support mine,” going on. There are hundreds of pages of bills that have a little of this and a little of that slipped into them in obscure places.
Maybe it is time to get back to the basics. Most of our common problems and the biggest ones, too, go back to the fundamentals of the Ten Commandments.
Yes, those Ten Commandments!
The “thou shalts” and the “thou shalt nots.”
For easy reference, here they are:
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall make no idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Keep the Sabbath day holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
I am not perfect. I have probably broken all of them except number 6.
Sometimes it was unintentional because I didn’t realize I was doing it, but sometimes I willingly broke the “rules.”
Each day I have to ask for forgiveness when I know I have done something wrong.
But the rules are pretty clear and simple and if they were more closely followed, I bet this world would be a better place—especially when it comes to politics!
I don’t mean to judge, but when this is before me, I can’t help but do so.
In self-reflection, I can see clearly how every one of these fits with every law made or unmade or yet to be made.
While I was writing this, I heard the name of the Lord taken in vain three times (swearing). I cringed each time. When I do it, I cringe, too.
Perhaps if those governing us took a look at the Big 10, they could have a better insight into how to govern.
Perhaps if we all individually took a look at these ten, we could have better insight into how to govern ourselves, as well.
Getting back to the basics seems like the clear choice.
Maybe someday it will happen...
Comments