On Rolling over

My son

on politics and voting

I would have written this sooner, but I had four tests this week, and we had dinner engagements every single night, so I didn't have time. One thing is true, I didn't intend any judgement. I guess I'm really trying to ask a question rather than tell you you're wrong.

I recognize that voting is perhaps the most sacred part of the cult of the American faith. It is something that we have been taught to value highly. It is something that has been exalted so much it is one of the unquestionables. One of the basic tenets of the American religion is that voting is in and of itself a good thing. If you don't believe me ask yourself how many times you've heard (or said) "It doesn't matter who you vote for, but vote for someone."

So I don't mean to sacrifice the sacred cow, but I want to ask the questions I have that nobody else seems to be asking.

So don't feel judged because I don't have the faintest idea what I'm talking about.

But I do want to rephrase the question so here goes...

1a. If Christ didn't seize political power when he had the chance, then I shouldn't either.
1b. Christ didn't seize political power
So 1c. Neither should I

2a. I should not do anything that involves seizing political power.
2b. To vote is to seize political power
so 3c. I should not vote.

I recognize that there are probably some pretty glaring logical flaws in this argument. Here's my issue...I don't think there are many people who would really try to refute any of the premises, except perhaps 2b. To that objection I can only say that the political power pie may be divided up into really little pieces, but as small as they are, they're still slices of political power and when we vote we take our piece. But here's how the conversation always seems to go:

"...So, you shouldn't seize political power."
"Yes, you're right, but I think that if you can do good and influence the way the government works, (or spends money, or outlaws abortion, or ends war, or whatever)..."
Or alternatively..."yes you're right, but I think that if you pray about who you're going to vote for..."

That's fine if you think that, but personally I have a problem with both of those responses. I am very skeptical about the ability of the government to do good, and about the ability of voters to really influence the way the government works. Rule of the majority tends to be oppressive to the marginalized and beneficial to the elite. But that's a whole other issue.

As far as the second goes I would say that Christ prayed a lot, and he could have become the emperor of Rome and done a lot of good things, but he chose not to. He chose instead to minister to the marginalized of society and let the government do its thing without him.

So I recognize that pretty much everyone who reads this will have an instant reflex rejection. I do, but I'm not sure why. So my question is if it is right to vote...why is it right to vote? and how is this line of reasoning wrong?

I guess ultimately my problem with voting is this: The act of voting itself is an attempt to impose my will on other people. And I'm just not down with that. Trust me, I don't judge you for attempting to impose your will on me. I recognize it as the way of things that some people will rule others, and the government will steal from me every chance it gets. That's life, but I don't want to be one of the rulers.

Just a little piece of pie

It's time to vote. In this country we are bombarded by messages declaring that it is our civic duty to vote..."vote or die", in fact was a major message last time around. Take your little slice of political power. It's like dessert at a buffet. You just ate a big meal, you're not hungry. Now it's time for dessert. (I know, I know, the current political choices are like being offered dessert somebody pulled out of the garbage three weeks ago, left out to grow mold, then fed to a dog who vomited, collected off the floor, put on a plate, and poured battery acid on. but imagine they're apple pie and ice cream). You don't want a slice, but it's free--if you don't eat it you're not getting what you paid for. It is your right and duty to take your little slice of political power.

But be careful, because there's poison in the pie.

Our current political system is based on a lie...correction...all political systems are based on a lie. "There is a legitimate source of power in this world that is not God." Politics is a bandage on a gangrenous wound. It attempts to cover up and correct the inherent sinfulness of human beings and human society. But the foul seepage of septic sin, soaks through the bandage, and it has to be changed. That's why political systems never last forever. The foulness of humanity eventually soaks through even the best laid plans of men. The good news is that as Christians we have the cure...we don't have to participate in the cover-up--we just have to proclaim the truth.

One thing Jesus didn't do, was take political power. He probably could have gone the Caesar route. He was a smart guy and probably could have pulled a few of the power strings to get himself appointed. But he didn't. And the reason for that is that there is a sharp dichotomy between what the world values and recognizes as powerful, and what God values and recognizes and good. Jesus flipped the power structures of the world upside down. He said the poor are blessed, the weak, the meek, and those who seek. We are called to do likewise. So grab that slice of pie--but know that Christ turned it down.

Power naturally oppresses. That is clear in our society...even if it is not intended. The powerful in our society are the wealthy. Yeah the president is powerful, but behind the president are the oligarchs who paid for him to get there. (and this isn't just true of the current president, it is inherent in the system) And the rule of the dollar has left us with places like Detroit, where the broken and destitute abound, abandoned by the centers of power. When we participate in the lie. We allow it to go unspoken. We say "this system works, it is good.

So take that slice of pie...but pray first that you don't choke on the lie you're trying to swallow.

There's a plank in my eye

zip, per capita, median houshold
48105: 34,534, 73,103
85621: 10,691, 22,801
85711: 16,901, 30,909
48201: 11,641, 16,921
49269: 18,905, 48,472

Here he is with his mother

More pictures

Here's his Godfather imitation

Here he is

taxes

Two of my siblings have recently commented on politics on their blogs so I guess I can too.

I think it is hilarious that the Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee (yeah the one in charge of writing the tax code) was cheating on his taxes. I think it's even more funny that despite the fact that he has been on the committee since 1975, his excuse was "I didn't know I was supposed to report that..."

If a man who has spent the last 33 years writing the tax code can't figure it out...

mother and child

another picture

I recognize that I haven't been posting all that much...tough. I have school and a baby to attend to.

So small

Home

Finally

I know it was only four days...it seemed an eternity.

Happiness

Sunlight in his eyes. Fitting him in the carseat. Crossing the threshold with my son.

Here we are.

Mom's sleeping. Ben's on my lap. One hand typing.

Nothing has changed.

They redid the echo...wait and see again, trips to the cardiologist in my future. Nobody really knows what's going to happen with his heart. It could heal itself and only need occasional monitering. It could lnd him back in the hospital. We continue to trust God to do his will.

Everthing has changed.

Life will never be the same...home from the hospital. The place we have prepared for him is finally in use. I put him in the crib I made. He's so small. An actual living thing sleeping in my arms...right now. We continue to thank God for the wonderful gifts he has given, the provision he has made for us.

On hospitals and discontent

We're still at the hospital...day four. Tomorrow Ben will have an echocardiogram to look again at the abnormalities they saw on Friday. I'm not sure what to expect. He seems to be healthy, progressing normally. But I can't see his heart. It is trying to have to wait and see...to not know...to not have any power...to not be able to fix him...to not even know if he still has a problem.

It's a little draining being at the hospital. It is grating to see Bentley constantly attatched to the machines...heart rate...respiratory rate...O2 Sat...Blood Pressure...Temperature. Nurses looking over my shoulder...How much has he eaten...has he pooped yet...was his diaper wet...feeling inadequate. If he doesn't poop, what can I do...how many excuses can I make...

It's also hard to face so much uncertainty. I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. I hope and pray that we will be able to take him home tomorrow. Maybe we'll stay...maybe we'll go...maybe he'll have to go to the ICU. And I can't do anything about it.

And so we trust God...to keep our son safe...to give us peace...to guide us into his will...to take us away from this place when the time is right.

gotta represent

Little Ben will be cheering for me tomorrow as I take my test

The Elephant in the Room

I feel, perhaps, that I should communicate my feelings over the last forty-eight hours with the community of people that surround and love us. Because, after all, life is not what we plan, and sometimes God prepares a way for us, that we cannot predict.

My son (I know I'm still getting used to the idea too...it's kind of scary), has Down Syndrome. At least I believe he does. The blood test won't be back until early next week. But the doctors are fairly confident, and so, for that matter, am I (though admittedly my experience is limited.

It has been an interesting experience, communicating this fact to the people I love. Because no one knows how to react. A few people say, "I'm so sorry..." To which I respond "I'm not." Some just say "ok", some "that must be a shock," but the most common reaction is simply silence....or "really???" One friend couldn't figure out if I was joking or not. (I wasn't). Really, I don't know what reaction I expect...I wouldn't know which one to give.

So let me tell our story. Adrienne got pregnant 9 months ago (a predictable number I know). About six months ago she had an ultra sound...everything was normal, then two days later her doctor called. There was a barely perceptible fuzzy spot on the tape. Something that probably was nothing, and something that if it was something, still probably meant nothing. But, if it was there, and it meant something, then in less than two percent of cases it could indicate Down Syndrome. She offered furthur testing, but we really didn't care...it wouldn't have changed how we proceeded. Adrienne and I talked at length about it. Down Syndrome was something we had never imagined for our children. We feel called to reach out together to at risk, and special needs children...but our own offspring. It hadn't occured to us. But we prayed about it together.

Two days later, at school we had a panel of families with children with Down Syndrome. And it was incredible. The kids that came were some of the cutest, friendliest, happiest kids I had ever encountered. And I learned there to see children with Down Syndrome as children...who just needed a little extra care. On my way home that day, I prayed for our child (I didn't know it was a he yet) and I prayed that God would open my heart to whatever he had in store for us. And I prayed that if our child did have Down Syndrome, that I would rejoice in thanksgiving. That evening, Adrienne and I prayed together again, that we would accept whatever he had in store for us with joy.

I continued, throughout Adrienne's pregnancy, to experience God's work preparing my heart to accept his will. As I prayed for our child I knew the bond was forming between us, despite our physical separation.

So, when he was taken to the NICU, I went with him, to watch him begin to breath. When the pediatrician called in the neonatologist, I knew. When she said the words, my heart leapt for joy. God has blessed us with a child who will bring light and joy into our house. It is right, It is good. It is not a difficult thing to accept, or something to get used to. God has already done that work in our hearts. My son has Down Syndrome, and I am glad.

I know it will be difficult. I know that there will be trouble. I know that my life will never be the same. I also know that all of those things would be true if he didn't have Down Syndrome.

here they are

For those of you not here

here are a few pictures, more to follow

fun and games

med school friends came to visit the first night