Apathy or Peace

When I was doing first sergeant duty in the Air Force it was necessary at times to discharge personnel because of their incompatibility with military life. One of the phrases I used to see on the paperwork crossing my desk was “unsuitability, apathy, defective attitudes & inability to extend effort constructively.” The airmen weren’t necessarily ignorant, lazy, or insubordinate. Most often they just seemed to be incapable of discipline or orderly conduct. This presented problems within the unit for two reasons. First, if they were not pulling their weight, job completion was jeopardized. Second, if the job was to be completed, someone else had to pick up the slack. The unsuitable airman created a net drag on organizational effectiveness.

Lately I think of those airmen when I consider how to respond to today’s political insanity. Honestly, I often feel apathetic and incapable to making any kind of significant constructive effort toward resolution. Oh, I write my senators and my representative often and with zeal and serious concern. My congressman feels as I do and so writing him is simply an initiative in kudos. My senators do not share my views and indeed often respond with form letters that make me wonder if they actually received the letter I sent, since their responses bear no resemblance to the topic I mentioned or do not address the points I wanted addressed. Also, I make periodic contribution to political action committees that highlight my concerns and to candidates that run on issues dear to me. But, I’m often disappointed in the measure of difference my contributions seem to make. Further, I write letters to the editors, notes to officials, and essays on my personal blog. Still, I’m never certain about my usefulness as a citizen or how constructive my efforts are. Should I be discharged from the arena of public policy?

I have come to a conclusion: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:5-7) Jesus said it this way in His “lilies of the field” advice in Matthew 6:25-34, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matt 6:27) Certainly that doesn’t mean to simply sit on my keister and expect the Holy Servant to do my bidding. But it does mean I am to trust Him for my welfare. You can call it The Serenity Prayer or Que Sera, Sera but I’ve no doubt that He has provided me with gifts and talents to expend as far as they go yet the accomplishment is His and the peace should be mine. There will be times, perhaps often, that I will be disappointed in the political landscape despite my efforts and energies. Yet, in the realm of really important matters, I know He is my comfort and my shelter. So when you see that resignation on my face, it’s not apathy . . . it’s peace.