Struggling

I haven't really done a post in awhile. Very few times in my life have I felt at a loss for words. While driving to work I usually listen to talk radio. The recent events from the government have my guts in knots. This administration may be remembered as the one that brought America to it's knees in defeat.

It appears that almost the entire left wing agenda has been ram rodded down the throats of Americans in this new STIMULUS law.

Word is that the next move will be to force socialized medicine through, just as quickly. Which surprised me, not in that it would be attempted but I was expecting the "right to bear arms," to be taken next. Men are you there?

The government already has such a strong position in dictating health care that the actual take over is almost complete. When we gave them the power to pay the bills, they also were given the power to dictate what they will pay for and when, how etc... translated into Medicare-Medicaid and the rest is history. No matter what you think about these policies, when YOU are faced with rationed care, when your life requires a treatment that is not "cost effective," you will sit up and take notice.

History always repeats itself. The Nazi's not only killed Jews, they also euthanized more people in the hospitals than in the camps. Anyone handicapped or unproductive. The beautiful strong intelligent youth were prized. The rest of humanity was not precious, it was disposable.
We have a serious problem with aging baby boomers, one way to deal with that is, do I dare say it? Euthanize them? Offer them palliative treatments? If you are 59 no bypass? If you are 85 nothing but morphine? Do you know that it's already happening?

Now you know why I haven't been blogging much this week. I have been stewing in my own juices. This morning I woke up warm and sleepy, rested. I have a day off. A day not to think about the crashing economy. A day not to think about what to do with the pitiful remains of my 401K. It wasn't much, but it's all I had. I had thought to ride it out and hope for recovery but that may not ever happen. Since I don't need it until about 10 years from now my plan was to wait, but it is nerve wracking!

What to do with all this negative stuff?
Negative is the biggest understatement, anyone with a better vocabulary can please fill in the needed adjectives.

The question is how to quiet oneself.
How to become calm in a distressed world.
How to be thankful in captivity.

Which brings me back to God. Everybody knows the story of Daniel. He was the guy the king put in the lions pit. They were hungry too, they would have devoured him without the power of God. God did show up for Daniel in a big way. What impresses me is the peace of Daniel regardless of the outcome. Now that is even more spectacular than closing the mouths of the lions. You see Daniel was cool with being delivered from the lions OR dying. He just didn't get rattled by his circumstances. No matter what happened, no matter what the king decreed, he just went about his business the same way every day. Daniel prayed three times a day. Actually I think he prayed mentally unceasingly, and those were his times set apart to LISTEN to God.

Giving thanks. Being thankful is the answer. As I begin to remember all the times before that God has come through. As I remember, that His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not my thoughts. I can delegate to the background, those troubles of the foreground. Nations have risen and fallen throughout time and still God exists.

He still speaks, through His Word the Bible, his people, his church and our lives. He still wants all people to know him, really know him, intimately. He is still love and loves me and loves you. He is the same yesterday and forever. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. I need a rock. If you want to bring up issues of sin (missing the mark), suffering and justice we can, in another post. Today we need the quiet rock.

It's working and I am quieter inside, calmer. Have you noticed the early signs of spring? It's coming. Think I'll share with you what I saw on a stroll in the garden.