Change Part Eight

I am dodging "the human side" of change, because quite frankly I am not sure how to tackle it. Whatever little spark I had when I first questioned whether the true issue was change or our human weakness, has left me.

I guess what I am thinking is that change is inevitable. Last night I sat down with my family and watched old videos from when my children were very young, meanwhile I am sitting with my oldest who will soon have two children of her own. Circumstances change over time and there is nothing we can do to stop it.

I used to travel overseas quite a bit and when someone was traveling with me I would always tell them to savour every moment, because they were going to wake up one morning and realize that the trip was a long time ago. We need to live in the moment, because time marches on and soon we are on to the next moment.

Maybe, the difficulty with change is with us. We can't stop change, so how are we going to handle it. And I mean all of it - the change we initiate, the change that we absolutely don't want, the change that comes from tragedy, the change that come with much pleasure - all of it. Maybe we are so busy trying to manage the change we miss out on what change - both good and bad - can bring. Just maybe there is good to be found in something that looks like a loss.

I think God has a viewpoint on this, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 (NLT)

I'm not saying that we roll over and sing "Que Sera Sera . . ." and allow just anything to happen. There is some true evil at work in this world that does need to be resisted. However, I can't help but wonder if we create most of the difficulties that surround change by our knee jerk reactions and we miss out on the opportunities that come with the change.

If change is inevitable, then why are we trying so hard to push against it? Maybe instead of managing change, we need to manage ourselves. We need to manage our attitude, our perspective, our information, our priorities, our relationships, etc.

We are always either agents of change or subjects of change. When we are change agents, we need to consider the impact that the change will incur and deal with the people, not the systems, in helping them through the change. When we are the subjects of change, then we need to check our own attitudes and to assist the change agents in understanding the impact of the change.

I suppose the other thing that is inevitable is the pain. But, pain management is another topic.

Change Part Seven

Before I continue on to talk about the human side of the change equation, I thought it might be useful (at least for myself) to review, or at least highlight what I have written so far.

"People want connection and growth and something new. They want change." - Seth Godin, Tribes (p.2)

But, maybe it’s not about change at all. After all Solomon wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9 - NIV)

No matter what you do - change or not change - you are going to run into challenges. If you change, the resisters will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave. If you don't change the changers will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave.

I have come to a two part conclusion. The first part is that there is more than one right way to implement and manage change and secondly that there is exponentially more than one wrong way to implement and manage change.

If people don't buy-in, they will buy-out, either by leaving, revolting or sulking. None of those are healthy reactions and it won't matter how appropriate the change was, if people aren't on board, the change will fail.

There is no change no matter how valid or noble that someone doesn't resist.

The status quo is often preferred over the risk of change.

So, "Why change?"

Well, some change is easy, or at least easier. If the change involves something really good - a change for the better - then it is not as difficult.

Other types of change is made easier, or at least with less resistance, because there is absolutely no choice in the matter.

Still other types of change are fairly easy to take, because the impact is very slight, or the results are neutral.

Finally, some changes are easy to take, because they are self initiated. We like the changes that we are in control of.

I think the hardest change is the change that doesn't have an apparent reason. The change that doesn't have buy-in, because those most affected by the change don't see or understand the reason for the change.

Maybe, the issue is not the change, but our human weakness. After all, change is about people, not things. Things don't care. Systems don't have feelings. Objects are inanimate. Are we managing the wrong side of the equation? Maybe the problem with change is not the change, but ourselves? And if so, how do we address it?

Okay, now on to the human side . . . next post.

Change Part Six

Okay, so some change is relatively easy. If for no other reason than, it can't be avoided. But, what about the tough stuff. The change that is hard. The change that is divisive. The change that is painful. The change that is resisted. What makes it so difficult? Why do we do it? Can it be easier?

I think the hardest change is the change that doesn't have an apparent reason. The change that doesn't have buy-in, because those most affected by the change don't see or understand the reason for the change. This is change that comes when a significant number of the people impacted by the change are not interested in changing. They are satisfied with the status quo, or at the least they prefer what they have now, to what they perceive the change will bring.

There are lots of books written about how to set up change. How to prepare influencers and leaders. How to get buy-in. How to create dissatisfaction with the present and a desire for something new. And if you work the system well enough, you can move a lot of people in the direction you want them to go. But, there will be a cost. That is why there are just as many books written on how to deal with the inevitable conflict that comes with the change, as there are books on initiating change.

So, "Why change?" Especially, if it is going to create conflict and send people sideways. And even more so, if the change doesn't appear to be crucial. Is change inevitable? Or, are there some things that don't have to change, or at least don't have to change as frequently? Or, do we have to live with the pain of change?

Maybe, the issue is not the change, but our human weakness. After all, change is about people, not things. Things don't care. Systems don't have feelings. Objects are inanimate. Are we managing the wrong side of the equation? Maybe the problem with change is not the change, but ourselves? And if so, how do we address it?

Change Part Five

So, "Why change?"

Well, some change is easy, or at least easier. If the change involves something really good - a change for the better - then it is not as difficult. I have used electronic PDAs for well over a decade. My first one was a little Sharp unit that had a single line display. Then I moved up to an Apple Newton (Bet you never heard of it!), then a couple of Palms and now an iPod Touch. I went from the basic storage of names and appointments to a full colour, surf the web, really cool world and except for the resistance that comes with forking over the money I can say, "Change is good!" In fact, the Newton was purchased for me by my work, so there was no resistance at all, at least not on my part

Other types of change is made easier, or at least with less resistance, because there is absolutely no choice in the matter. You may not like the change, but there is no going back. I mentioned in a previous post that guitar builders have had to look for alternatives to Brazilian rosewood and Honduran mahogany. Guitar builders love to work with those woods, but they have been over harvested and now it is almost impossible to get them. So, the builders have had to look at alternative woods, they have had no choice. Which on a side note I think has lead to some really good sounding alternatives, that they may never have discovered if not forced upon them.

Still other types of change is fairly easy to take, because the impact is very slight, or the results are neutral. There are hundreds of little changes that take place all of the time, that are either tweaks (a new web interface), improvements (new and improved Tide), repackaging (just about every product on a grocery shelf), anticipated (tax hike) or temporarily inconvenient (road repair). They are not that big and we soon get over them. Or in the case of tax hikes, we have grown so cynical that we meekly surrender to the inevitable.

Finally, some changes are easy to take, because they are self initiated. We like the changes that we are in control of. If I decide to purchase a new car before my car dies, or a look for a new job before I am fired, or buy a brand new laptop, or get a new hair style, etc., etc. I am in control and I see the change as my choice and for my benefit.

These are examples of change that is fairly easy to deal with; however, not all change is as easy and that is what I am struggling to deal with.

Change Part Four

This post is dangerous, because I struggle to have an answer to this question, "Why Change?"

Now, I know that at this moment you thinking of a thousand reasons for change and many of them are great. For example, something is no longer effective, such as the need for the creation of new antibiotics. Or, something better has come along, such as led screens for computers. Or, circumstances have forced a change, such as the over harvesting of Brazilian rosewood forcing guitar builders to look for alternatives. Or, something is unacceptable like the death every 20 seconds of a child due to contaminated water.

Now, it would seem reasonable that people wouldn't resist or oppose these kind of changes, but that is not the case. There is no change no matter how valid or noble that someone doesn't resist.

At the moment of this writing, the leaders of Israel and Palestine are meeting in Washington to discuss peace and there is huge opposition to these talks by a wide range of interests. You would think something as precious as peace would be fully supported, but it is not. You can argue that the opposition to these peace talks comes, because there are great complications accompanying the talks - the complications of land, people, religion, rights, power, pride, etc., and you would be right. And even though most of those who oppose the talks would state that they too desire peace, they are not willing to compromise, or set aside, or negotiate their "complications" in order to achieve peace. The status quo is preferred over the risk of peace.

So, back to my question, "Why Change?" After all the status quo is comfortable, known, beneficial to some, easier, seemingly less risky and besides, who can guarantee that the change will work? No matter what the change, someone will be upset, so why create a problem? Wouldn't it be better just to manage the present circumstance?

Change Part Three

Having been dealing with what seems like constant change over the past 30 years, I have come to a two part conclusion. The first part is that there is more than one right way to implement and manage change and secondly that there is exponentially more than one wrong way to implement and manage change.

Now you may think that I have grown cynical over the years, but when you think of the detail that is involved in change it really is pretty easy to go off the rails.

There is the timing of the change. Is it the right time? Are the all right conditions (people, resources, desire) in place?

There is the pace of change, or maybe you could call it the rhythm. I once read that during a period of change it is good to pause, to change up the pace to give people an opportunity to breathe.

There is the speed of change. Are you going too fast, or too slow? Are people able to maintain their equilibrium?

Then there is patience. Many change agents get impatient and push too hard, in their desire to get to the other side of the change.

And it is always good to question the appropriateness of the change. Even if the time is ripe for change, is this the change that is appropriate?

I could go on and on, but you get the point. And all of this really points to the key issue of buy-in. If people don't buy-in, they will buy-out, either by leaving, revolting or sulking. None of those are healthy reactions and it won't matter how appropriate the change was, if people aren't on board, the change will fail.

If we fail in the timing, pace, appropriateness, etc. we will fail to get buy-in. If we fail to get buy-in the change will fail or at the very least become extremely messy.

Change Part Two

I saw an interview recently with Jack Welch (former CEO of GE). He said something along the lines that change can never be too fast. When he said that, my immediate thought was that he had never tried to lead a church - where change at any pace seems to be too fast.

I have often heard it said that, "The change at the church was implemented too fast," and that is why there is upset and sometimes outright revolt. But, I am beginning to think that no matter what the pace of the change is, it is going to bring resistance.

Within any group of people (such as a church congregation) there will be those who want change and those who do not want change. And, no matter what you do - change or not change - you are going to run into challenges. If you change, the resisters will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave. If you don't change the changers will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave. So, to word it more crudely, "Your damned if you do and your damned if you don't!"

When we change things up and it doesn't go as well as we hoped, I wonder if the question we ask ourselves is not about the pace of the change, but whether the change was necessary in the first place. If the change was necessary, then maybe Jack was right. It is a little like tearing off a bandaid. Do you rip it off quickly and get it over with, or pull slowly and drag out the pain.

Change Part One

I'm thinking about change these days. Partly because I just watched change "hit the fan." It is always ugly when things go sideways. People get hurt. And it seems like change is one of the surest ways to hurt people. I have to say somewhat selfishly (my fallen nature) that I am glad that it was not my fan that just got hit. But, it still hurts to watch friends struggle.

I am reading Seth Godin's book, Tribes and while the book is about leadership and human tribalism, its undercurrent is that our world is constantly changing and it needs people to lead that change. He says, "People want connection and growth and something new. They want change." (p.2) I don't disagree with Godin its just if people want change so badly, why do we have dozens of books and experts and seminars on managing change and dealing with the aftermath of change. The paradox is that while we seem to resist change, we have created a society that is caught in a vortex of constant and rapid change.

We all want change and we all do change and we all benefit from change, while at the same time we all resist change. I tried to brainstorm why and the following is a list of words that came to my mind about change:

Pro Change - better, lust, necessity, excitement, pride, different, image, boredom, improvement

Pro Status Quo - connection, control, memory, continuity, comfort, stability, constant, known

There is nothing inherently wrong, immoral or unethical with wanting or not wanting change. Change and Status Quo are morally neutral. Sometimes change is forced upon us. Sometimes change just feels good. Sometimes it nice to go back to the old neighbourhood . Sometimes its nice to sing an old song.

And maybe its not about change at all. After all Solomon wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9 - NIV)

Furry - The Haters

I am going to let my furry reign here for a moment. I was looking up an article by John Piper on why he was using social media to share the gospel. I was doing this because I just launched myself on Twitter and I was going to post this on my Facebook page. (As a aside, I am using social media, but not necessarily as a platform to convert the world - after all 90% of the people who read my few posts have already made a commitment to Christ, so they don't need converting, nor do they need my frail insights into the nature of God.)

Well what shock! When I started looking up the Google hits on John Piper I discovered that there are a lot of "Christian" haters on the web. These are people who claim to be Christian, but they have a deep need to attack others as non-Christian, because they view their doctrine as heretical. By the time I was finished following all of the links I realized that there are no prominent pastors or Christian leaders who are not condemned by those who believe that they alone have accurate doctrine and correct belief. I could not believe the arrogance of these people. I find it hard to understand that anyone can actually believe that they alone have it all correct and that they alone have they the authority and right to virulently attack others with whom they disagree. I'm going to have a tough enough time on judgement day, without that on my head. I can just hear God saying, "Who gave you the right to touch my anointed ones?"

What I found even more disturbing was that these attacks were all about doctrine and correct belief, but in all of the arguments I never saw Jesus lifted up. It seemed like all of this Christian infighting was about everything but Christ. Its as if Christ is a no longer central to our message. Its as if correct doctrine leads to salvation. Is as if what we believe is more important than in whom we believe.

The sad thing is that all this infighting is there for the world to see. No wonder the Gospel is a tough sell in this world. Who would want to fellowship with a bunch of nasty haters. Jesus said that the world would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. I think that love is a little hard to find amongst those who choose to hate. Of course the haters argument is that the people they are attacking really aren't true Christians. Which begs the question, "Who are true Christians and who makes that distinction?" I always figured that was God's job, but apparently not. It would seem that the haters have taken over that role and God help us all because I think that we will all be condemned.

Been A Long Time

It has been a long time since I have anything to write.

I Am Famous - Almost!

I played at an open mic, at a motorcycle rally a few weeks ago and someone from my chapter recorded and posted it on YouTube. I had no idea they were going to do that, so it was quite a surprise when they emailed me to let me know.

So far the video has been viewed 84 times! It is stalled right now, but I am sure that at any moment it will go viral and the calls with record contracts will come pouring in, or not.

I am thinking that it will be wise to hang on to this moment for as long as possible since I think that this is probably my "15 minutes of fame," or more precisely 4 minutes and 56 seconds.

Anyway you can view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsX8vSIzcEc

Kevin.

Father's Day

In keeping with my tradition of blogging about once every other month, I thought it would be appropriate to blog on Father's Day. Actually, my youngest daughter told me to. She also told me that I need to say something about having wonderful, brilliant amazing children. So, I would like to say that, "I have wonderful, brilliant amazing children." Now she just said that I need to put some enthusiasm into it so - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - there!

Actually, I do have three very special girls, whom I love dearly.

I was thinking about being a father today. I think most of us who are parents are at times racked with guilt and feelings of inadequacy. We try, but we wonder if we have suceeded, or just messed up a perfectly good lives. I suppose that the best we can do, is the best that we can do. I was thinking of my own dad this morning and the most important thing that he gave me was love. I knew, that I knew, that I knew that I was loved and that was all that mattered. That and the first guitar he bought me! I'm not even sure he realized that his love was so evidenced and felt. Saying, "I love you," was not a part of his vocabulary. His generation just didn't go there. But, I knew it and it gave me all the confidence that I needed to step out into this world.

My hope is that my girls know that they are loved. And while I haven't bought any of them a guitar, I hope they feel that they have been given much. Anyway, happy Father's Day to all you dads.

Up To My Neck

I am up to my neck in work. In fact I don't have near enough time to complete what needs to get done today. That's why I am blogging. I need to escape the pressure.

Now, I know this doesn't make sense. As soon as I post this I will be going back to my mega to-do list, only with even less time to accomplish all that needs to be done.

So, why am I doing this if I know that the 'escape' is only temporary and will only compound the problem. Well, because. After all this is the human plight. We stall. We drag our feet. We put off until tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. I could claim that I work better under pressure and with a tight deadline, but that would be a lie. I work much better when I have time to mull things over and try several different approaches.

Quite frankly, I just want to escape. I am tired of thinking about the things I have to think about and instead I want to do the things that I want to do. Is this immature - probably. Is this unproductive - definitely. Is this a waste of time - sure, unless of course somebody actually reads this and gets something out of it.

Sometimes we have to put down the "have tos" and do the "want tos." I don't want to go to my grave with a massive to-do list of things that I accomplished that were all "have tos." I like to think that I had a little bit of fun on this journey. I know that "have tos" can be fun, but right now they are not.

So, this is it. I can't spend any more time writing this blog. In fact I don't even have time to proof it, so you will have to live with the bad grammar, punctuation and spellin'.

Hi My Only Two Followers

Hi,

I thought I should post something for you - my two only followers. I know it has been a long time since I posted anything.

How are you? I am fine.

Orange is like blue, only different.

Square triangles are not.

Three times is one more than two and one less than four, unless times two.

Where you are I am not, except when you are.

Random information is not random only unexpected.

Time is only relative to itself.

Nonsensical discussions are profoundly deep.


Dad.

So Much For Frequent Posting

I had resolved that I was going to post to my Blog on a regular basis. I don't think a one month gap between posts qualifies as "regular." So, what happened?
Nothing to say?
No time?
To lazy?
To busy?
All of the above?
Take your pick, they are all valid to some degree.

I admire people who frequently have something INTRESTING to say (Please note the bolding and capitalization of "interesting"). I'm too scattered for that. One moment I am determined that I will expend my energies on practicing guitar. The next moment it is working on my motorcycle. Then I determine I need to spend more time on a little book project of mine. And so on, and so on, etc.

Blogging appeals to me, but the energy to actually blog on a regular basis is more than I apparently am prepared to give it. I should note that just five feet to my right is my open guitar case. Fifteen feet ahead of me is my book project. And just across the room and down a short flight of stairs is the door to the garage, where my bike is awaiting its annual winter maintenance. And of course when I am done this blog I won't be doing any of the above. Noooo, the Superbowl pregame shows are calling my name!

Am I alone, or are you torn in six different directions and opting to do none of them? I suppose to some degree it is human nature, but it also seems to be my nature in particular. I would like to excel at something, but too many things interest me and I am not prepared to give any of them up. There is nothing wrong with being a, "jack of all trades and master of none", its just that I would like to be both "jack" and "master".

Feel Like Christmas?

Late Christmas Day, my wife commented to me that it didn't feel like Christmas.  I agreed with her and it got me wondering why and I ended up asking myself two questions.

The first was, "Why didn't it feel like Christmas?"  I think I have the answer to that question. After spending 11 hours at Church on Christmas Eve, participating in four Christmas Eve services, then driving 3 1/2 hours to my mom's place (half of it through blowing snow), arriving just before 1 am, getting to bed at 2 am, then getting up late Christmas morning, unwrapping presents, wolfing down a big turkey dinner, watching two movies and crashing totally exhausted that night, I didn't have time to feel anything much more than frantic exhaustion.

When I think about it, it hasn't felt like Christmas in years, especially since being on staff at a church.  November and December are just one big blur of activity leading up to Christmas Eve and by the time Christmas Day arrives I am tired and my only desire is to crash.  Which leads to my second question, "What is Christmas supposed to feel like?"

I don't have the answer to this question.  If I look at Mary and Joseph, my Christmas looks rather laid back.  They had nine months of mystery, confusion and nasty rumours. Mary spent most of that time at her cousin's place.  They had to travel to Bethlehem with Mary full term in her pregnancy, camp out in a stable while she gave birth, have their privacy invaded by shepherds and kings and eventually they had to get out of town and head to Egypt.  I'm not sure that they had warm fuzzy expectations about Christmas. 

In fact when it comes down to it, they felt, what they felt, when they had to feel it, because of the particular circumstances they were in.  At times their feelings would have been a reaction to their situation and at other times they probably tried to rise above their circumstances and choose to feel hope, or peace or whatever.  Their emotions would have run the complete gamut from fear, to awe, to hope, to confusion, to anger, to joy. 

Maybe, that is what Christmas is supposed to "feel" like.  In fact maybe Christmas is not about feelings at all.  Maybe, it is simply something real that takes place and how we feel about it is how we react and interact with that reality.  Maybe, our feelings are secondary.  It didn't matter how Mary, or Joseph, or the people of Nazareth, or Caesar, or any of the others felt.  It only mattered what they did with it.  The Bible says that Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart.  Maybe, emotional exhaustion is alright, as long as I choose to treasure these things and reflect on what they truly mean.

Top 10 LIST

I read somewhere that, if you want to attract readers, you should publish LISTS. Apparently, people love to read LISTS - which is why you are reading this LIST post. So, I thought I would publish a top ten LIST of the reasons why you shouldn't post a top ten LIST.


The Top Ten Reason For NOT Publishing a Top Ten LIST
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10. Seven of the top 10 reasons are so lame no one laughs.
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9. You can't publish a list without having to insert a celebrity's name.
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8. - 2. These are the seven really lame reasons, so I am sparing you.
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1. Oprah!

Not Really Communicating

I posted a link to my Blog on my Facebook Page, which surprised one of my daughters. She asked why I had a Blog - she also wrote, "who R u? lol". I explained that I was at a church communicators conference and they said that a Communications Pastor should have a Blog. The idea is that I should blog about stuff that is relevant to the church that I serve at and advertise the Blog , so that people at the church can go online and see what I have to say.

That all seems reasonable, except for the fact that so far I haven't written anything of relevance to the people at my church and except for noting that I have a Blog on my Facebook Page (which only 16 people have access to - none of which go to my church), I haven't advertised that I have a Blog. So, that brings the discussion back full circle - Why do I have a Blog?

If I ever figure that out you will be the first to know.

Which brings up an important issue - who is reading this Blog. I downloaded somekind of Google program that tracks usage and lacking a degree in computer programming, I have no clue how to add a sitemap so that it can track my pages. I have read the help pages, but they are in a completely foreign language to me. So, not willing to spend the next six months learning how to code HTML or XML or whatever it is they want, I can only hope that people will leave comments, since I can't get the tracking software to do much more than list out undecipherable statistics about heaven knows what!

No Time To Do

I find that the older I get, the less time I seem to have.  A little over six years ago we moved to a new city, because I had changed jobs.  For two weeks we stayed in an apartment, while we waited for our house purchase to close.  During those two weeks I had no To-Do lists.  There was nothing to do around the apartment and I was up to my eyeballs in meetings with my new job, so I didn't have time to put together a To-Do list.  It was wonderful!  My time was mine, without the guilt of feeling obliged to do something.

Now I rate a day as successful or satisfactory or fulfilling or whatever, by how many items I check off my To-Do list.  I start each day, even my day off work, by creating a list of items to accomplish.  If I don't check off many items, I go to bed dissatisfied.  If I play hooky and don't make a list, I feel guilty.  My mantra for years has been "being, not doing", but I'm a hypocrite, because I measure my life, by the things I do.

I never seem to have time, because I am always either engaged in doing something, or feeling guilty because I'm not doing something.  I know that my lists are far too long, but I don't want to give anything up.  And, then I complain.

I know that there is this big trend towards simplifying our lives, but I don't want a simpler life, just one where I don't feel guilty about those things that I have assigned myself to do and haven't gotten to.  I think that simplicity comes, not from eliminating items on the list, as much as it comes from being patient about the ones, that you just can't get to, yet.

Yesterday, I finishing rebuilding a travel guitar that I had made 8 years ago.  She has never played very well, and I knew that I would have to do some major work on her - her name is Gabriella ("Gaby").  I have felt guilty for years, for not getting around to fixing Gaby.  I finally had the time these past three weeks and now she is done and tomorrow she makes her debut at church - I'm playing Hey Jude on her.  I realized as I was working on Gaby, now was finally the time that I could give to rebuilding her.  My problem wasn't the 8 year gap, nor was it the time I took to rebuild her.  The problem was feeling obliged and guilty during those 8 years, rather then just accepting that it wasn't yet the time to work on her.

So, my next To-Do item, is to relax and not get all hung up about the massive list of things I have yet to get to.  Their day will come.  Now, where is that list ;-)

Liberal Evangelical

It's been really tough for me to watch the election in the United States. We had a federal election in Canada, back in October, and during the campaign they interviewed Canadians from all across the country about the Canadian vs. American election. One person in Windsor, which is right across the river from Detroit, said that he was following the American election, because it was going to have a greater impact on people in Windsor, than the Canadian election. What is scary, is I don't think he was too far off the mark .

Anyway, it has been tough for me, because I feel constrained in talking about my views. You see I am a Liberal (I spell that with a capital "L", because Liberal designates a political party in Canada, and not just a political position), and I am also a conservative evangelical Christian. It is a pretty lonely and somewhat conflicted position, at times. While I don't share many of the moral values of the Liberal party, I do share their value of caring for people - it just seems a little more Biblical, then the more conservative position of every man for himself.

I have appreciated John McCain, for many years, precisely, because he didn't fall entirely into the normal Republican mold, which of course is why he was not particularly popular with his own party. But, if I had lived just a couple of miles further north (Windsor is south of Detroit), I would have voted for Obama. I don't agree with some of the things he stands for, but I have not been particularly impressed with what has gone on for the past eight years, much of it with this vague connection to Christ. Personally, I'd rather "render unto Caesar", and get on with the business of loving God, my neighbours and myself and making disciples of all nations. But, politics can get in the way of that.

I pray that the next four years will be a little more sane, a little more caring and a little less harsh than the past eight. Who knows, just maybe God can work in this, or maybe we who love Christ can get on with what is eternally important and not get sucked into temporal stuff.

I want to add that we Canadians, in spite of all of the global American bashing that goes on, appreciate the liberty and freedom that the USA has stood for and the warm generousity of American people. God bless you.