I have no idea how many times I have shared with y’all my political mentor’s words to me, after I “retired” from politics after President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign in 2004; but I am going to share them again. “You can take the girl out of politics, but you will never take the politics out of the girl.”
She was right.
I dabbled in a couple of campaigns after 2004, offering input anytime I was asked, and helped draw up campaign outlines and fundraising plans. But I never worked in an official capacity, again, in politics.
But you still cannot take the politics out of this girl.
I watched Representative John Lewis’ funeral Thursday, and as soon as President George W. Bush began speaking, the flood of tears began to fall.
I miss him. I miss him so much.
When he said the following, I was fist pumping in our living room, “Listen, John and I had our disagreements, of course. But in the America John Lewis fought for – and the America I believe in – differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action.”
President Bush also quoted Isaiah, “Here am I, send me.” I questioned if I would have been as brave and courageous as Representative Lewis was, and allowed myself to be beaten and bloodied; jailed for trying to peacefully bring change so desperately needed. When President Bush said, "That we must all keep ourselves open to hearing the call of love," I was convicted just a wee bit, more. Because the call to dismiss/dislike/detest is so much easier than to love. I want to be more open to hearing the call of love in the face of hatred.
I have tried, so many times, to extend love and grace to people who are unkind to me. My initial response is to throw up my hands and say, "Well, Jesus. I tried. But you see the crap I have to deal with, here. Send someone else to love on them. I'm sick of the resentment and nastiness."
It's easy to hear the call of hate, though, isn't it? Boy was I feeling my toes stepped on with the "that we must all keep ourselves open to hearing the call of love," challenge.
Then, President Obama spoke and opened with one of my favorite passages for difficult trials in life, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4 (NIV)
I want a better life for Americans. I want the nastiness to stop. I want the vitriol to end. I want the left to get along with the right and the right to get along with the left. I want to see equality. I want to see truth. I want to see justice.
It starts with you and me. All of it: equality, truth and justice are in your hands and mine. We must demand it. We must be willing to say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
I have not considered all of this you and I have experienced in 2020, pure joy. But I am working on it. Because I know God is testing our faith, and the testing produces perseverance. We have to let perseverance finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Speaking only for myself, I have a heck of a lot of work to do.