Saturday, September 5, 2020

FROM THE LIPS OF CHILDREN


St Michael, St Michael Church, Chicago

“From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries.   ----Psalm 8:2

“Jesus declared, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ----Matthew 11:25

My Saturday morning drives with Starbucks coffee has become a weekly ritual and a great way for me to turn off the world and reflect more clearly on life. This morning I was reflecting on the past four years and all the divisiveness around everyone in this country. And now we are closing in on a national presidential election that in my view is one of the most contentious in my lifetime.  I’ve realized that the majority of my selections for president have been the lesser of two evils that were selected by people not soliciting my opinion.  This is no doubt the end game we have been painfully careening to through an extended impeachment process that was extremely anxious for everyone and now we’re experiencing an extended pandemic lockdown.   

And this glacier movement of the lockdown for the past six months has left most Americans isolated in their homes subjected to a 24/7 vitriolic extension of political bickering.  We have watched in disgust and anger as rioters have hijacked peaceful demonstrations in our cities to loot, burn and even murder for extended periods, including over 100 nights in Portland, Oregon.  As bad as this has become, the murder rates in these cities have increased exponentially without abatement or much attention. 

It would seem that politicians across this country have a pact to visually create a contrived atmosphere of lawlessness and deceit to relentlessly beat down the psyche of the average American citizen before the election.  As I examined my own personal experience today, it occurred to me that the scheme was working.  And one of the key revelations to resolve a disease or addiction is to confront it before it can be eliminated.  Of course, both parties promise to be the salvation for all of our problems.  One pundit noted that we are now in the election “Silly Season.” 

I was considering how this might all be resolved any time soon when I received a text and photo of my three-year-old grandson in the Chicago courtyard of St Michael’s church.  The family was biking in the area and had chanced upon Saint Michael’s statue.  Today, Saint Michael is invoked for protection.  The base is inscribed with the words “Assist us in our battles against the evils of the day”.  Saint Michael the Archangel is the leader of the army of God and the patron of soldiers, police and doctors.  And God knows how much help these professions need right now. 

As the family paused for a rest break near the church steps, my grandson matter-of factly announced that “You can’t sit there because Michael is going to come out!”  I’m not sure that Saint Michael delves in human politics but there’s enough hypocrisy coming from career politicians on both sides of the aisle that they all need to stop the craziness and take note while there’s still time!

 

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