There was something that was missing, unfinished business, that stands to be corrected. Sunday night came and went. But nothing, I was at a loss, not by the unfolding of the political events that had transpired in the two days prior, but by the angst and the fury that was seething from those I know, or thankfully in some cases, only know of.

I have chosen not to wade in to the cesspool known to others as the national political scene. Not that I didn’t have a horse in the race, because whether I care to admit it, I did, but because I have nothing meaningful to contribute. I didn’t think the conversation really needed another voice that could and would be demagogued for no apparent reason other than sport. And does the world really need another victim screaming from the roof-tops, “That grievance, count me in too!”

In reality, we get what we deserve and in our elected officials we get a representation of what, as a nation, we have become.  No one likes to look in the mirror and see the face of indifference. The six-pack that now takes the shape of a beer barrel, and that hour-glass figure, well I will leave that one alone.

Part of me is eager to jump into the fray, gas can and all, to add fuel to the fire if for no other reason than to irritate a select few. But instead, maybe what the world needs is something that will keep all that madness off the top of Facebook timelines for a few brief moments.

In the midst of all the noise pollution that is now deemed to be conversation, I was able to find a few examples that provided the much-needed relief from the clamor.

To those that chose to share images of unconditional acceptance, I appreciated the picture of the SUV full of Golden Retriever puppies. To those that want to convey a message of hope for the future, the pictures of your children enjoying their season of innocence spoke volumes. And to those few that found solace in knowing that ultimately we answer to the King who appoints rulers over us, and have shared teachings from the Word that became Flesh, your timing could not have been better.

Last week, while I was busy preparing for an upcoming speaking engagement I was asked this question within the context of living with a progressively degenerative disease. “What do you do when you have a difficult day? How do you regroup and regain your composure to press on?” I had to think hard but after a long silence, I could only offer this as my response:

“If I were to play the odds I have to assume that my today will be better than my tomorrow, my next week, and my next year. If I squander my today, I won’t get it back because my tomorrow may bring with it its own rendition of discomfort, limitations or hardship. What I have to face today, I can endure today. What I will be presented with tomorrow, I will pray for the grace and strength to endure tomorrow.”

As a nation, we will have to learn how to find the peace to live today with what we are given to endure today, and the grace and strength that we need tomorrow to endure our tomorrow.

Thanks for reading, liking and sharing.

You will have to forgive Ivy, she took off and is looking that SUV full of Golden Retriever puppies. She is still looking for her siblings.

Al Van Dyk and Ivy his faithful, but distracted, wonder pup.