Do You Get It?

Do You Get It? (1,168)

June 5th, 2011

It is once again the season of pre-election bantering and posturing—although I’m not sure it ever stops. Because I am apolitical and do not favor any party stance, I can listen with a sense of both interest and neutrality. At least I think I do.

One thing seems to be universal: all candidates feel they need to tear down what is happening in our country so they can ride in on white horses, to save the lost and dying serfs. It becomes tiring.

If we are really on the Titanic, why is everyone jockeying to become the captain? Do we really think it’s necessary to destroy the fiber of this nation in order to provide a plan for a better meal? I don’t get it—do you? On the other hand, whoever is in power feels compelled to defend their administration’s little list of accomplishments instead of admitting that there is still much to do.

I think we are one grown-up short of being able to throw a party—and here’s what I think it means to be a grown-up. It’s a three-fold process:

1. “I have actually come to terms with what I’m good at doing. It doesn’t mean I can’t learn more. It doesn’t mean I am totally inept at everything else. But it does mean that given the opportunity, under normal circumstances, I can deliver a pretty good job in my particular area.” A good start.

2. “Since I do know what I can do, it also means I have taken a very good assessment on what I am not able to do and therefore am not only open to suggestion, but am prepared to move out of the way and allow those who are better than I am to lead the way on any adventure.”No one would ever go into the wilds of Africa without a guide. Maybe it’s because we’re afraid of the lions. But many people will go on a trip without a map, start a project without doing any research or run for political office without knowing the history of the United States of America. I don’t get it. Do you?

Which one makes me look more stupid—admitting I don’t know, or having it proven by my ridiculously inept actions? We need each other. If we don’t need each other, then we are preaching a gospel of self-sufficiency, which, by the way, happens to be against the precepts of the original gospel.

3. And finally, every adult should live by this slogan: “I will improve this wonderful situation.” There are so many subtleties in that statement that I don’t know where to start. First, we are admitting that it is a wonderful situation. America may have problems, but the country is still a bustling factory of possibility. We do not achieve anything by diminishing the quality of the nation under the notion of uplifting its people. But there is a power in recognizing necessity and anointing of improvement. I will often tell my friends and family that the time immediately following a disaster is no time to argue about change. Rather, it is the time to heal. The best time to change is when you’ve just experienced a success. Then you can take a deep breath and evaluate how to improve, while simultaneously celebrating the fact that you don’t have to do it over again.

Yes, I think if we’re going to choose a leader for this country, the major criterion should be: is he or she a grown-up? In other words, do they realize what they can do and what they can’t do? And do enact the slogan, “I will improve this wonderful situation?”

I never come into an engagement in a church thinking that I am there to rescue the lost or save the world. I look for the wonderfulness that is already available, and just add my little tidbits to sweeten the pot. It makes my message powerful instead of threatening.

No, I don’t get it. What will cause us to finally shake off the gossiping spirit that has rendered us incapacitated instead of empowered? When will we stop our criticism long enough to improve instead of deteriorate?

I don’t know. But I, for one, am going to try to be a grown-up today. I will tell you what I can do and what I can’t do, and I will improve this wonderful situation.