Doom and Gloom

It has been a life long practice of mine to frame activities, events, even a variety of trials in a positive way. It is what I do. My most recent birthday marked sixty-nine years of the gift of life. The blessings that surround me are great. There is the gift of home-much more that just a shelter, but a place of comfort and abundant memories. Our refrigerator and cupboards are full of good nourishing food. The closets and drawers are a testament to having far more clothing than we actually need. Our monthly income meets our needs and then some. One of my most remarkable gifts is the gift of family. As a middle child I am "bookmarked" by an older brother and younger sister who are not only gifted artists, but very funny people. It fell to me to be the responsible serious one.
Although my first marriage ended after fourteen years, it gifted me with two extraordinary daughters who are my closest friends. The eldest is an artist, teacher and world traveler. The youngest sings like an angel and is the mother of my two adorable grandsons.
As if all of this blessing were too little, God gifted me with a man who is a treasured companion and dearest friend. He knows me better than anyone and loves me anyway.
All of this and yet my current mood is one of great perplexity and deepest concern. Our country has always had its challenges. After all my husband and I are "Baby Boomers". We were the products of post World War 2 optimism.  We experienced the angst of the 60's and hope that everything would work out ok in the end. Yet here we are facing one of the most contentious and crazy election cycles in memory. Both parties are rabid in their support (or condemnation) of their candidates. Both candidates make me cringe, hence the title of this post, "Doom and Gloom".   These are actually my nicknames for them. I've also heard the choice characterized as, "Crazy or Evil". You can decide who gets what title.
The singular issue for me at this time in history is the way we treat babies before they are born. If we are comfortable ignoring the fact of their personhood...who is truly safe? It seems, like Esau, we have sold our birthright for a bowl of soup. We were hungry. We didn't want to be encumbered. We have a right to decide. We are lost.
Besides always trying to find a positive way to frame things I have always steered clear of contentious political exchanges. My plan is to maintain that except to say, no one is exempt from facing their choices. There is one small sliver of hope for our country. It is the mercy of God.