You’ve likely noticed a marked decrease in the amount of gold that’s been flowing from my brain lately.  For that I am sorry, as I know many of you rely on my wisdom and sage advice to guide you through each day.  The fact is, I found myself involved in a political affair that I simply could not ignore, and it did a wonderful job of absorbing my time.  I’ve voluntarily removed myself from that political affair because I discovered a few things that allowed me to view it from a perspective that made me understand that I wasn’t engaged in the right battle. 

I bring this up not to criticize what I was working on, as I still believe it’s the best option for many of us.  But I have realized one thing:  I can rely upon only myself to do the things I feel need to be done in this world.  As consumed with the difficult issues facing this nations as I am,  I must either bring about the change I seek in the world, or remove myself completely from politics.  Hoping that others will remain unaffected by the silver platters adorned with stacks of greenbacks offered up by slick and smiling business interests is an exercise in futility, and unless I’m willing to kick the platters away myself, I shouldn’t expect others to have the strength to do it.

But beyond this realization, I’ve also accepted the notion that people in power, corrupted by the black sticky hands of political back-scratching, aren’t just the slow, dim-witted bricks who tripped into power.  Legions of good faith men and women have attempted to wade into the tar pit of politics, only to find themselves sucked into the dark, thick depths of a network of power-brokering and forces far stronger than the will of the human mind.  I won’t act to push anyone into this pit, nor will I offer an outstretched arm as aid to anyone stuck in the morass.  But I will sit, for now, on the sidelines and pray for the victims of politics, and I will remind myself each day that politicians are no different than I.  And instead of blaming them for their weaknesses and faults, I’ll carefully consider whether I am strong enough to withstand the pressures they face each day.