Ask a builder. One can only build for so long, so high, so far on a shoddy foundation without starting to see the structure crumble.
When buying a home that has aged, any expert will tell you: “How is the foundation? Is the structure solid?”
I’ve been involved in the political arena for over seven years, run a statewide organization, followed state and national news, envisioned the tea parties, educated fellow citizens; I’ve attended rallies, committee meetings, watched legislation be introduced, trained candidates and participated in the cultural conversation. And I have major red flags about this hour we are in.
Where is the conversation about the foundation of our country? Listen to the conservative party politics, the conservative economic groups, the candidates. They are talking about an important and current topic worthy of addressing: the economy and need for jobs, need for healthcare reform, need for improved education, need for safer communities and better care of our environment. But these issues are only addressing the structure of the building. They are analyzising the wall studs, the ceiling beams, the electrical til we as consumers and citizens are blue in the face. I can’t figure out if real progress is being made, or simply more rhetoric is being spun. I am confident that some of our leaders behind the podiums mean well and are trying in their best attempt to come up with solutions. To be honest, I do not envy the burden on their shoulders and the for certain weight in their heart as they try to “save” Michigan and our nation.
But is it possible that we are overlooking the important things? Shouldn’t we look at the foundation of the building, patch the cracks, replace broken stones, and rebuild portions of the wall before we keep building a strong structure? Our steps forward will be wasted if we do not go back and start at the beginning.
Let’s review the original intent of the foundesr for our nation; let’s make sure we understand our value as individuals before God and the importance of us having a say in how we run our lives vs leaving it in the hands of big government; let’s ask God what’s important to Him such as the value of life from conception to natural death; let’s learn economics, world history, and how to communicate effectively. Let’s learn from nations and leaders who have done things right or tried things and then ended up wrong. Do we undestand the constitution? The bill of rights? The importance of religion, but moreso GOD in our every day life and activity?
And most importantly do we undesrtand who we are as individuals, before God; do we recognize the moral dna He has stamped on our heart that pricks our conscience when we’re walking away from and in complete opposition to His laws.
What if we all stopped assessing: what color the curtains really are, or how high the picture should be hung on the wall or whether the roof should be replaced yet and if so the pros and cons of each shingle choice? Let’s go back to the foundation and make sure the house we are preparing internally adn externnally is assessed foundationally as well.
Who is God to me? Who am I to Him? What do His never changing rules of love mean? Why was America founded? What was the rule book the founders left? And how do those principles need to be used to calibrate our true north again?
These are the questions we should be asking. When we have assessed - or learned and examined - the foundation inside and out, we can start buidling up, out and everything in between. This will be a strong and for sure recipe for moving our nation back to healthy once again.
Afterall, a fantastic structure means nothing if the foundation is deterioarating.
George Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789 "The foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens, and command the respect of the world."