“Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’” – Matthew 25:40

This is my second post for today.

• The first (“America has fallen and can’t get up“) is important, so if you missed it please click and read.
• Then this post is all about perspective – and equally helpful, I believe.

The Perspective of History:

My parents live next door. They are both significantly elderly (collective age, 181). Dad was born in 1928 and mum in 1931. So – between them – they have seen some stuff.

David and Grace Maul were kids during WW2. Mum lived in East London, where their street was blown to pieces during one of the constant Nazi air raids. Dad was “evacuated” to the Midlands with his school; then, after the war, he served overseas in the British Army.

I mention this because it’s important we remind ourselves about the long view, about the lessons of history, and about the steep price that has been paid in order for regular people like you and me to secure the right to vote in a free election.

The perspective of history should give us pause:

People count, and their votes should be counted too. My parents are not U.S. citizens but for me they point to what is important for all of us. Trying to disenfranchise voters is – essentially – like saying the work accomplished by the Greatest Generation isn’t important anymore. Imagine a pair of 90-year-olds being shoved to the ground by a bully because they are in the way?

So we took a walk in the beautiful cool sunshine of Wake Forest in early November. Up the driveway and around the cul-de-sac is all dad can manage, but it’s about getting up, and being grateful, and getting out, and getting it done.

Freedom; democracy; the security to live in peace. We can taste it in the air. Love, care, and respect for – as Jesus says – “the least of these” – this we understand and feel too.

“Good Government” must involve both.

Regardless – of who you are, where you come from, your age, what color your skin is, and what floats your political boat – you matter. And your voice matters too – DEREK