I Had A Dream

I had a dream a couple of weeks ago.

I was walking along somewhere by myself.

As I was walking down this path, I came across Christian Skoglund and began to speak with him. It seemed to me that we were in some sort of forest and he was sitting on a stump. We were having a wonderful conversation when I finally realized that he was not dead. It dawned on me....

I started jumping up and down, laughing and crying and shouting, "You are not dead! You are not dead! You're here."

He looked at me and laughed and said, "Oh course, I'm not dead!".

And then I woke up.

I was startled. It was so real.

I've been thinking about this dream for some time now.

Wondering.

Death is never natural, even for those like my folks who died in their eighties and lived wonderful, love filled lives. I sometimes feel that I have lost the words, mom and dad, forever, and at those times I can hardly bear it. But it was never meant to be like that. Those left behind, experiencing such excruciating pain and loss. And for those who die young, no, we can not explain that at all. Taken in the prime of their lives.... but we just know it is not right. And we are left wondering why, and what now to do with a life void of that person.


Perhaps we are too focused on this present life. Could that be? This the reality that we know. Here. Now. Flesh and blood. Twenty-four hours.

For me especially, I know the joy of planning and organizing. Having a list and getting through it and feeling so good about goals achieved. A calender filled with events, good ones, that include friends and neighbors, family and community.

We, or should I say I, am not cognizant enough of the fact that life lies endlessly before us in the kingdom of God. We are so attached to this life, what we see and feel, what we try to accomplish, our goals and aspirations for ourselves and our children. Our lives are here and now and we are not anticipating the banquet that is being prepared for us. This is our life, in the here and now, and we are busy arranging it.

For all of us, young and old, this is just the beginning of our lives. We will keep on living and learning, working on things we love, and experiencing real beauty and joy. We have a lot to look forward to. A vast world to explore, people to meet and loved ones to reconnect with. Glory is going to be revealed in us. That's a promise. We are going to a place that perfectly fits us. Fits our gifts, fits our talents, our loves, our personality traits and quirks, our pleasures and our hopes.

And it will be wonderful.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not appear what we shall be, but we know, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, and we shall see him as he is." I John 2.

Different

Another year has past.

Last year we were all together on an island. Just our family. Together. With thoughts and tears, comfort and hope, rememberances and sighs.

This year everyone, a different place; Kentucky, South Carolina, New York City, Hawaii, Canton.

We talk on the phone, remember times. This is a day, an anniversary. It is really just a day like all the rest have been since. But it is the anniversary of the beginning of days.

And again we wonder why.

Again

I stood in front of the television.  And I knew.

Another base.  Another tragedy.

Feelings of tension, fear, hopeful faith, tears, agony, hearts broken, trips taken to Texas, calls to family and friends, plans and preparations that you don't want to make.

And lives changed forever.

Wives and parents.  Siblings, cousins and friends.  Their lives changed forever because you can never go back to the past moments and memories that you want to become permanent in this new reality.

There will always be a hole, a gap which can not be filled.

And it was certainly senseless.

I cried for the families of Fort Hood. 

We experienced that two years ago almost to the day that this tragedy occurred.  We know what is happening on the base to the families that were involved.  If there is one thing that the Army does right it is honoring their dead.  But they can't bring them back which is what we want them to do.

So I pray.

God send them people who know you. Let this be their revelation; "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

A Step Forward

No, the conservative did not win in the special election. We came close, less than four thousand votes between the two candidates. But for this next year, the 23rd district will be represented by a Democrat.

We are still instructed to pray for Mr. Owen. And I hope that we take that responsibility seriously. Just because Mr. Hoffman did not win  does not negate our responsibility to pray for those in authority over us.

I grew up in a family who was always interested in politics. They were knowledgeable about the issues and passionate about their concerns involving government. They read newspapers and listened to the then limited newscast on the 6:00pm news program. And they had common sense back in the days when they remembered what it was like to go through the great depression. We had lively conversations around the dinner table and I vividly remember sitting at my grandmother's long dinning room table, many times, listening intently to my grandparents, aunts and uncles discuss politics. Sometimes heatedly. Even when our Norwegian relatives came for visits they participated in various discussions on elections and the direction of a particular administration.

I think we have awakened to the fact that we have to be involved in the life of our country. That the responsibility for the direction that our country is up to us, both to pray and to be actively involved. I'm sure there are many people that the Lord is calling into the political sphere. And I don't think we should be afraid to enter in. "Politics is dirty, it's nasty, they play hardball, you can't get anywhere by being nice and doing right." Says who? I love proverb 24:10, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

I was really intrigued that this man, Mr. Hoffman, who is nothing to look at and is certainly not charismatic engaged the entire nation. We were engaged with him before Sarah Palin and Dick Armey endorsed him. We didn't need the RNC to validate our thoughts about this candidate. His candidacy was already rolling along in the North Country before the big wigs came here to lend their support.

I knew that the opposition was really nervous about Mr. Hoffman's unbelievable success when they started running ruthless smear commercials during the last week of the campaign. The term "radical right" was thrown around in every commercial. What is so radical about fiscal responsibility, not killing unborn babies and believing in traditional marriage between a man and a woman? I'm encouraged that he did not retaliate.

I thought his speech last night was encouraging so I'm including it here for those that continue to read my blog.

" America has changed, and you have helped. Although we did not succeed in winning this election, we have succeeded in making sure political parties and special interests no longer take the people for granted. I believe we have sent a powerful message and laid the groundwork for future conservative campaigns.

I congratulate Bill Owens on a hard won victory. In our tradition of free elections our country continues. And although Bill Owens has won, I believe America is turning the page to a new dawn.

The idea of freedom, sound fiscal management and citizen government have sprung back into our consciousness. Our foundling fathers would have been proud of New York 23. It was here that our principles, those that have been the foundation of our nation, came back to life with a vengeance. And it was here that the people rose up against the political bosses who tried to impose their will. It was here that people reached out to control their own destinies again.

Despite the election results, I am optimistic for our future, because now I know that I am not alone in wanting to repair our great nation. Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the outpouring of support and the intensity of that support.

I've met many different people in this campaign, from many walks of life and many professions; each with a different personal story to share. Yet we are all united in the belief that by participating in democracy, we could inspire change.

I urge that no one feel defeated, for this was only one of many elections. We came close, we put our agenda in front of the nation and the nation took notice. The worse thing we could do now, is not continue forward. Next year there are other elections and other candidates who have drawn inspiration from our efforts.

I would like to thank all of you who placed your faith in me, who worked tirelessly and shared your enthusiasm with those around you. You are patriots, you have stood up for your country and I'm honored to stand among you."

Doug Hoffman

The 23rd District

This little known area of the Empire State will have the eyes of the nation fixed on it tomorrow.

John McHugh, our former congressman, was tapped for the Secretary of the Army by President Obama. And that caused a vacancy in the Congress and the reason for this special election in the 23rd district.

It seems that perhaps our notion of the way we do government maybe changing and it may be starting in the most obscure area of the country, here in upstate New York. We seem to be saying we do not want so much government involvement in our lives. And we are certainly not happy with the spending our government is currently involved in and the deficits that it has run up.

Doug Hoffman is not much to look at and he doesn't speak with ease. He is not a natural politician; not polished, not smooth, not charismatic. He's a businessman, a CPA, who owns his own company. He knows fiscal responsibility. He came from humble beginnings. He was raised by a single parent in Saranac Lake. He has been in the military. He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and is against abortion. He is simple and straightforward. And he has engaged the people of the north country. In just three short weeks this obscure man has become known all over the nation and by all the poll analyasis he is in the lead.

I'm glad to see that more and more people are getting interested in politics. It's important. We are instructed to pray for our leaders so that they would have wisdom and we could lead quiet and peacable lives.

I'm praying that God would have his way in these elections, and that people would come out and vote which is our civic responsibility.

We'll see. We'll see. This time tomorrow night we should know.