Your Strength Will be Your Weakness

One of the most profound and disturbing things I've ever read was in a devotional book I couldn't otherwise make sense out of -- My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I had a strange disconnect with this book because I couldn't understand when the author made an argument whether he was for something or against it. In other words, I couldn't tell up from down in this devotional classic. Other people cherish it and find direction for their souls. I have no idea what he's talking about. I gave the book away.

But back to the profound and disturbing thing. Here's the one thing I did understand: He made a statement about how your strength can become your weakness. And I've been thinking about that for years.

It's true personally. It's also true for our country.

I've meant to write about this so many times, and I have so much to say about how your strength can be your weakness.

"She's kind to a fault," my mother would say about a friend who was very sweet but a pushover. But that's not a particularly good parallel, because your strength doesn't have to become your weakness. Your strength can stay your strength.

For all the thought I've given this, I seem to have fallen into babbling. So I'll skip to today's point. I am so worried about our country. A system, a nation, a culture can be broken. The U.S. is not a force of nature, like gravity. It can collapse. It can be diminished. It can quit working. It can be the Great Experiment that failed.

Things come apart. The center cannot hold.

All because we let our many strengths become our many weaknesses.

Why I bring this up today is because for a long time I've wondered if everybody should have the right to vote. For starters, if the candidates are offering one group of voters the money currently possessed by another group of voters, does that even make sense? Isn't that a form of vote buying? Isn't that potentially mob rule?

That's one issue. Voters with a conflict of interest. It's one thing to vote to help other people with your resources. It's another to vote for your own handouts. Gimme gimme.

Then there's the issue of uninformed voters. It's a great country that gives equal voice to the weak, the strong, the informed, and the uninformed. But isn't this another case of our strength becoming our weakness? Read this post from Rachel Lucas (hat tip Anwyn) and weep.

Comments

[Jane]

I somehow wandered onto your blog and have enjoyed reading your last 10 posts. I'd love to read more of your thoughts on 'your strengths will be your weaknesses'--since you've been thinking on it for years I know you have more! Count me in as one who has wondered if I am 'really' a Christian because I couldn't tell you if an Oswald Chambers devotional entry was pro or con any given statement!!! Enough writing for now...I must go find some other worthwhile endeavors as I procrastinate on several things! I'll be back...

[Cheryl]

Interesting. I was reading in a history publication at the dentist's office yesterday. One of the contributing writers who writes for Hillsdale College publication talked about how ignorant many of his students are about basic American history. He says that historians, teachers and parents have failed to create interest in history because they make it so factual and boring.

I'm not a historian but do like informtion on our heritage. Perhaps if we knew our basic heritage...our documents of note like the Constitution...and how our government is SUPPOSED to work, then maybe we wouldn't give control of our country to a non-elected $ man. I too am concerned. I pray for wisdom...God's wisdom to prevail instead of the obvious lack of wisdom mankind has to "handle the situation" because he THINKS he is strong.

Perhaps I'm rambling...

[Transylvanianhorseman]

That link would be laughable if it wasn't real. The absurdity of the very idea that a presidential candidate is a "communist" is bizarre. (Have any of you people seen a communist system? I have.) The fact that people vehemently believe this kind of clap-trap is disturbing. Yes, you have a problem with voters who are welfare scroungers and irresponsible mortgage-takers. And, yes you have a big problem with ill-informed voters whose views border on fascism. If these people vote in another right wing Republican leadership, I can only pray that America retreats into isolationism, ceasing at last its warmongering and its ruthless exploitation of weaker nations. I am a Christian, and I do NOT recognise Biblical Christianity in the outpourings of McCain and especially of Palin. I do NOT see Biblical Christianity in campaign meetings with a lynch mob mentality, or in a million needlessly killed Iraqis.

[I Gallop On]

That's redistribution of wealth. It's worked really poorly in Zimbabwe http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1260755-p2.html. They used to be able to feed themselves, I understand, but no more. It will work really poorly here. Socialism is never a good idea because it directly contradicts human nature. It kills aspiration.

I am appalled at the sheer number of people in this country who have their hands out, saying gimme gimme. I wonder why I work so hard to put two kids through private school? If they go to college, work hard and become responsible citizens, they'll be giving a good portion of their hard earned money to those who do not work hard?

Obama is rooted in this socialist ideology. Wright and black liberation theology (the Pope has an interesting paper on that subject). Ayers and his radical socialist agenda. Farrakhan????!

I think I've always assumed that the center will hold. I'm not so sure that I'll recognize my country in 4 years of an Obama administration.

Good post. I hear you.

Kimberly

[lori]

let Mr. Transylvania stay there
(or wherever)

[groovyoldlady]

And this is precisely why our hope HAS to be in God, not in ANY political candidate or party.

I pray. I vote. I hope.

But ultimately, we are in God's hands. I marvel at the folk who belt out "God Bless America". America, as a nation, certainly does not bless God. Our idols are self and wealth and fame and power.