Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Love Is

When I was in high school, curiosity brought me to a meeting of Students Against Driving Drunk. I've never been a fan of drunk drivers, and it always made me mad that they were getting off with a slap on the wrist and a wink. I was soon thereafter approached by a school counselor to represent the school at the state level. While I was tempted to accept the offer, there was something about the program that really bothered me. I finally realized that it was the focus. Driving Drunk. It was actually more about students trying to persuade drunk students from driving. For me, it seemed more logical to persuade students from drinking. Then I wouldn't have much problem with them driving. That, of course, didn't go over so well. Students liked to drink. Or so they thought. I don't know many of them who enjoyed the flavor. I think they liked to drink because they thought they liked to drink - because they thought they were supposed to like to drink. Maybe I am wrong.

I didn't like to drink. Neither did my friends. In fact, we can still recall most of our parties. We had a great time. We had alternatives. For us, we didn't focus on whether we were going to drink or not. In fact, it very seldom came up. We just liked getting together and finding things to do. No one had to worry about who was going to bring the beer, or how they were going to get it. We were more focused on what movies we were going to rent, or whose house we were going to hang out at, or who was going to drive while we cruised Memorial, or the Fontana.

Nor did we worry about birth control, or sexually transmitted diseases, or whether we were going to have sex, or whether we were going to deprive ourselves of sex. We knew we would wait. We also tried to avoid getting too promiscuous. Why? Because we were learning the value of a relationship that was built on friendship and courtship. We didn't use the term "courting", but we lived by its connotations. We understood what sex was. We knew what sexual activity was. But we valued respect above all else. And we found that our relationships with the opposite sex were stronger for it. We fell in love. We recognized love. Love, for us, was not an activity we arrived at, but an emotion we experienced on both long- and short-terms. We had girlfriends. And while we sure each one was "the One", we cherished the sweet, innocent emotion that bloomed as we developed a pining for each other. We had long-distance, short-distance, marathon and sprint romances. But our focus was not on whether we would score. Rather, we focused on whether this one would bloom; whether this would be "the One".

Abstinence education struck me as a little odd. It began just as I was leaving school, so I never really got into it. But from what I knew of it, and from what I had been taught growing up, I saw the wisdom in it, and was happy to agree with its message. But, as beautiful as the message was, it was certainly vulnerable to snide and snappy comedic attacks. And it seemed almost doomed. Why? I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Tonight, I can. For the same reason I had a hard time with the SADD - the focus. Read this article for more. I thought it laid it out pretty good. Abstinence is fine, but innocent romance is where its at.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Why I Respect Mitt Romney

As I am watching the Super Tuesday returns, and getting frustrated, I came across this posting on VoteMitt4Prez. It helped put things in perspective, reminding me that while what happens in the political arena is extremely important, the way we conduct ourselves as followers of Christ is what is important.

I just finished watching a movie titled "Amazing Grace" about William Wilberforce, the man who spearheaded the abolition of the British Slave Trade, which passed in 1807. After many years of difficult and frustrating setbacks, the trade was abolished by an overwhelming majority. One long-time parliamentarian stood to state something like the following:

When history speaks of great men, they are usually war heroes. Napoleon would be coming home to great fanfare and pomp. But when he goes to bed, he will have memories of war and bloodshed. However, when William Wilberforce leaves these chambers, he will go home to his wife and children. And when he lays his head on his pillow, he will know that he ended the slave trade.

All the glory in the world will never replace the quiet, reverent, and respectful worship of one's Lord.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Shut Up, Huck

Let me retract a statement I made a while back. I once said that I was somewhat comfortable with any of the Republican candidates. Well...

Huck is a whiner. Huck is vying for that VP spot. Huck is a religious bigot. Huck knows he has no chance of winning, but he also knows that so long as he is in the race, no Mormon will get the nod. Huck is disingenuous. So is McCain, for that matter. "Oh" they cry, "Romney is spending millions of dollars on attack ads." Well, for starters, if having your record highlighted is a negative thing, then maybe you should reconsider your record. Second, Mitt doesn't have the luxury of free media time to speak negatively of his opponents. Those two don't need to spend the money, all they have to do is say "I have decided to not go negative. And to prove it, here is a negative ad I would have used. Go ahead and take a look at it, and feel free to write about it." Or "Romney is so mean." Or "Romney is a Mormon."

I used to think McCain was a straight shooter and a real stand up guy. I do not think that anymore. McCain is a bitter, arrogant, crusty old man who will say anything to get the vote. But I do not trust him, and I do not like him.

I used to defend Huckabee here in Arkansas. But he is a disingenuous, mean-spirited populist who does not understand that freedom comes from a more strict adherence to the Constitution and ideals that founded this nation. He refuses to place his own ambitions above conservative ideals.

I am not sure what Super Tuesday will produce. I am holding out for a miracle.
But I am embracing for an embarrassingly disappointing presidential race.

The Numbers Are In