the song remains the same....

at the risk of sounding self-involved, I've been too busy lately to think straight. in the last week I've been in or through 7 different states (including Illinois) slept in 3 different beds (either by myself or with my wife, scoffers!) and dealt with teaching, attending a wedding, and a family funeral.I spent time with new friends, old friends, and family. I tried to listen as much as possible, which is the key to any growth. I tried to maintain my energy level and intensity in conversations and exchanges, even with people who are way beyond the borders of my intelligence and experience.

I watched my wife drive away yesterday, to board a plan to Pittsburgh for her grandmother's funeral. I realized that I would be a single dad for about 4 days and both relished and got a bit nervous over the thought. I agreed to fill in for my good friend, Phil the Presbyterian, and lead his Wed. night service while he's gone.

I finished Berry's "That Distant Land" and have moved on to try and finish Brueggemann's preaching book (see former posts) before reading Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses".

And then last night I watched debate #2. And then I watched the spin on FOX, NBC, ABC, and a bit on PBS. What I was most fascinated by was Tavis Smiley. He asked his panel a question last night, namely that both candidates seem terrified to say the word "poverty". They all agreed and said it was because the working/truly poor are not the base candidates want to reach.

It was at this point I realized that the world may never change. If the poor are no longer a part of the social and political equation we are pretty close to becoming a stench in the nostrils of God. Our leaders or potential leaders can't begin to even SAY the word poverty much less deal with and connect with those who are in the midst of it. In all of my activity this week, including the debate, what I've realized is that even though social justice is a far more visible and important conversation piece, the silos and ghettos that separate have's and have not's are still in tact.

My prayer is that somehow, somewhere, the scales may fall from our eyes and the truth might blaze out triumphantly in all of our effort and work--the poor are among us, and we are accountable through the Gospel for what happens to them. We are accountable as a nation and as a subculture that follows Christ. Accountable. Do we really remember what that means?

What if the entire country boycotted the election, by the way? Is it scarier to think of a failed democratic process or that someone would be put in power by the electoral college regardless of whether we voted or not?

Thinking out loud--your thoughts?