Remember when John McCain congratulated Barak Obama on winning the presidency? John McCain's humble 2008 concession speech
He got booed. We abandoned civility before our politicians did. We abandoned a lot of things before our politicians did.
It's easy to blame the other side (or both sides), as if their bad behavior justifies our own. Its easy to watch in horror while THEY destroy the world, while neglecting our little part of the world.
Let me bring everything back home. I'll outline how I, personally, have failed my country and my fellow Americans. I know that my failures, along with your failures, have translated to the world we see today.
- - -
I have been horrified by the way we're treating our neighbor countries, while being ambivalent to my own neighbors - I haven't even met my neighbor next door.
I have been shocked by the identity chaos and surgical operations being carried out by the left, while doing little to build children up and support families in my community.
I have been angry by the naked greed of our politicians and business leaders, while grabbing every dollar I can and wishing for more.
I have been infuriated by the destruction of young men in the abstract, while doing very little to help the despairing young men around me.
I've been saddened by the destruction of the family, while often viewing my family as an obstacle, an annoyance.
I've been devastated by the exodus from the church. I don't do anything in my church except grudgingly show up.
I've been obsessed with the failures of others, while ignoring my own.
I've been upset by how divided we are, yet I avoid being around people with different politics.
I've been upset about abortion, while not lifting a finger to help the despairing young women who might seek it out.
I've rolled my eyes at politicians dramatically seeking social media attention, while spending hours on social media.
I've been saddened by the emptiness and meaninglessness of many people's lives, but have been too scared to share solutions.
I've been angry about the selfishness on display in our world, while living a life that's deeply selfish and self-centered.
I've been sad about the loss of American community, yet I've found gathering with others to be not worth the bother.
I've been upset about our lack of friendliness, while being too afraid to reach out to those around me.
I've judged others' sins harshly while excusing while my own.
I've justified my failures because I'm busy, I've overwhelmed, I don't have time. I've let myself off the hook, too hectic, too much going on - while I've wasted hours and hours in passive entertainment.
- - -
Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. May I remove the plank from my own eye before I look for the speck in my brother's.
He got booed. We abandoned civility before our politicians did. We abandoned a lot of things before our politicians did.
It's easy to blame the other side (or both sides), as if their bad behavior justifies our own. Its easy to watch in horror while THEY destroy the world, while neglecting our little part of the world.
Let me bring everything back home. I'll outline how I, personally, have failed my country and my fellow Americans. I know that my failures, along with your failures, have translated to the world we see today.
- - -
I have been horrified by the way we're treating our neighbor countries, while being ambivalent to my own neighbors - I haven't even met my neighbor next door.
I have been shocked by the identity chaos and surgical operations being carried out by the left, while doing little to build children up and support families in my community.
I have been angry by the naked greed of our politicians and business leaders, while grabbing every dollar I can and wishing for more.
I have been infuriated by the destruction of young men in the abstract, while doing very little to help the despairing young men around me.
I've been saddened by the destruction of the family, while often viewing my family as an obstacle, an annoyance.
I've been devastated by the exodus from the church. I don't do anything in my church except grudgingly show up.
I've been obsessed with the failures of others, while ignoring my own.
I've been upset by how divided we are, yet I avoid being around people with different politics.
I've been upset about abortion, while not lifting a finger to help the despairing young women who might seek it out.
I've rolled my eyes at politicians dramatically seeking social media attention, while spending hours on social media.
I've been saddened by the emptiness and meaninglessness of many people's lives, but have been too scared to share solutions.
I've been angry about the selfishness on display in our world, while living a life that's deeply selfish and self-centered.
I've been sad about the loss of American community, yet I've found gathering with others to be not worth the bother.
I've been upset about our lack of friendliness, while being too afraid to reach out to those around me.
I've judged others' sins harshly while excusing while my own.
I've justified my failures because I'm busy, I've overwhelmed, I don't have time. I've let myself off the hook, too hectic, too much going on - while I've wasted hours and hours in passive entertainment.
- - -
Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. May I remove the plank from my own eye before I look for the speck in my brother's.