Posted by
peripheral on Monday, August 04, 2008 8:17:39 AM
From My Perspective - - - -
It is becoming more evident that both punditry and
polls/statistical analysis are muddying the political landscape. It is becoming
a Daily Distraction as well as an Annoyance. Those who make their living in
such areas fail to factor in that any number of people (a) believe their
preferences are a private matter; (b) people will give the “politically
correct” response to avoid being labeled as liberal, conservative, moderate,
racial, gender-biased, etc.; and (c) some people will just “lie” in order to
confuse and blur the true sentiment in terms of Poll Results. The pundits are
now citing the “Bradley Effect” (Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, an
African-American Democrat, in 1982 unexpectedly lost his candidacy for governor
of California.
His defeat followed voters telling pollsters they prefer a black candidate and
then voting the other way) possibly being in play and affecting the results of
the Tracking Polls. It is almost like a “game” being played with Pollsters.
Distractions occur in many areas of life and can blur the
Purpose and Goals in given situations. A Classic Example of the various
Distractions one can encounter in life are summarized somewhat in the Christian
Allegory entitled, Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. A man named Christian
purposes to leave the City of Destruction
(Earth) and journey toward the Celestial
City (Heaven). As he sets
out on that journey, the many Distractions begin. The first ones to call to him
are his family members pleading with him to remain with them. He stops his ears
to block out their voices. He will also have to encounter his neighbors and
their ridicule and criticism most notably by Mr. Obstinate and Mr. Pliable. His
only encouragement comes from the one called Evangelist who instructs him to
head toward the Shining Light and to stay in the center of the path that will
lead to the narrow wicket gate. There are others who will try to dissuade
Christian – people like Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Mr. Legality and his son Civility
– who attempt to get him to join them in the city of Morality. Do these
Distractions sidetrack Christian and divert him from his Goal? At times, Yes!
He lets himself be enticed to go to Legality’s home. However, Evangelist meets
the wayward Christian where he has stopped before a life-threatening mountain, Mount Sinai,
on the way to Legality's home. Evangelist shows Christian that he had sinned by
turning out of his way, but he assures him that he will be welcomed at the
Wicket Gate if he should turn around and go there. Christian, wisely, changes
his course and gets back on the path that will lead him to the Wicket Gate.
All of us are confronted daily with Distractions of every
sort. Some things seem so appealing and enticing that we divert from our Goals
and Purposes and succumb to the diversionary distraction. A worthy role model
for all of us is Nehemiah. He felt compelled by God to rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah
appeals to King Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild. He is granted
permission. However, as the Wall is progressing, Distractions arise. In
Nehemiah 4:1-3, we read the initial ridicule and attempt to Distract – “Now when Sanballat heard that we
were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the
Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, What are these
feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice?
Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of
rubbish, and burned ones at that? Tobiah...said, Yes, what they are building if a fox goes up on it he will break down
their stone wall!” The words could have easily discouraged Nehemiah
and been a Distraction that could halt the project altogether. But they kept on
with their effort – with spear in one hand and building with the other –
“because they had a mind to work” – and the project was successfully completed.
There are times and moments when we
all are confronted with Distractions and are almost overwhelmed by the
opposition or discouraging words. At such times, we need to remind ourselves
Who we serve and what He will do. We must remind ourselves of Galatians 6:9, “And
let us not be weary in well
doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Consider this with me and let us keep on keeping on - - - -