Lessons From Lincoln

Right now I'm reading a book called The Seven Miracles that Saved America, by Chris and Ted Stewart. The chapter I am currently reading is about Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. I think there is a lot to learn from that period of our history, yet because it is far out of our recent memory, people forget about it and fail to learn from it.

The Civil War was the center of the media frenzy and there were issues on both sides of the battlefield. This was certainly a dark day in America's short life span.
Families were literally divided by the fighting. President Lincoln's brothers-in-law fought for the confederacy. General Robert E. Lee's nephew was a Union officer. Senator John Crittenden of Kentucky had two sons--both officers in opposing armies.

Two things that Lincoln wrote at that time, at least in my opinion, should be far better known and understood than they are today.

First)
"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business.

"I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.

"If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference."

And the other)
"My faith is greater than yours....I also believe He will compel us to do right in order that He may do these things, not so much because we desire them as that they accord with His plans of dealing with this nation, in the midst of which He means to establish justice....I have felt His hand upon me in great trials and submitted to His guidance, and I trust that as He shall further open the way I will be ready to walk therein, relying on His help and trusting in His goodness and wisdom."

If the political leaders and governmental representatives had attitudes like this, wouldn't this nation be a much better place?

It is primary election day here in our state. The Republican party hold closed primaries. Only those who are registered with the republicans are allowed to vote. The Democrats hold an open primary. As one registered as an independent, I prefer to vote for the person, not the party. Too bad the elected officials don't do the same once they are in office.

My frustration with the system as it is currently makes me feel really cynical about the state of our country. Reading this book gives me a little more hope that God does care what happens here--like He does in other parts of the world--but this country was founded under His influence and as such I am sure He is supremely interested in what we make of it. And what we are making of it in the last little while cannot be what He had in mind. Too bad we didn't learn a thing or two from Abraham.