Yesterday I had the opportunity to take my daughter to the pumpkin patch. A day off of school collided perfectly with her birthday and was a great chance for a Daddy-Daughter day. As a newly minted 8-year-old she was anxious to show me how mature she was. Bravely stating she was old enough for the haunted house and haunted hayrack ride. While to me, a jaded adult in his mid-forties, these attractions were simply worn-out cliches, the haunting and fear were palpable to her. Despite her best attempts to be brave, leading the way through haunted houses, there were several times throughout the day that she instinctively jumped backward into the safety of Daddy’s arms.
Reflecting on our time together later that afternoon, my mind’s eye jumped back to a long-forgotten statue I knew from my own father’s bookshelf growing up. A gift given to him by my brother Mark and me when we were but toddlers. The statue, entitled, “Nothing So Safe As a Father’s Arms” (pictured above), was given at a time when the whole world was contained in my father’s arms. They were a continual beacon of safety. Nothing was ever so scary that it couldn’t be blotted out through the safety of Mommy or Daddy’s arms.
Country of Horrors
Although family-friendly haunted houses at noon no longer produce fear or horror in me, the current political environment in the United States does. It is almost impossible to avoid the fear-mongering being generated by both Republicans and Democrats in almost every race across the country. In the path of this destruction, not only is political horror being smeared, but, more importantly, tangible fear is ripping through business relationships, friendships, and most disastrously, families.
For the first time in my adult life, there is nothing safe, save, perhaps, sports, to discuss anymore. A sane person does not dare discuss politics, healthcare, religion, or an infinite list of other taboo topics around the water cooler or coffee pot anymore. As we have lost our ability, as Americans, to have respectful discourse, one misinterpreted, offhand comment, can now, instantly, dissolve years-long friendships and splinter families. Far from the world in which I was raised, where everyone was entitled to their own opinion, today you are only entitled to your opinion if it is the same as mine. Differing opinions, instead of inciting polite debate, now only incite hate, bloodshed, and animosity.
Will You Do Anything But Scare Me?
Maybe I am not listening closely enough, but this election cycle I have yet to hear a politician say what they are going to do in office if they get my vote. Rather, every political ad I hear or see is meant to invoke virulent fear of what will happen if the opposing party wins. In other words, vote for me because my deeds will be less evil than my opponents. While the choice to vote for nobody seems, perhaps, the best option, I know that this is not the best use of my conscience or my civic duty. And no, I am not looking for political advice on voting.
If I am confident in nothing else it is that I am not the only one scared right now. Scared for the future of our country, for my civil liberties, and perhaps most importantly, for my daughter’s future. Beyond the political realm, the question then becomes, what do we do when we get scared as adults? Do we allow our lips to incite irreparable damage, or do we reach out our arms for Daddy? We lash out with our tongues because we are scared, because we do not know which path is right, because the path which we see ourselves on is filled with horrors beyond the scariest haunted house ever created. Perhaps, though, instead of lashing out at others with hate, we should take a lesson from my daughter and instinctively fall into the safety of Daddy’s arms and embrace.
Only True Safety
While I am thankful to still have my own Daddy here in the Earthly realm, his arms, though comforting, now provide only fleeting comfort. There is a Heavenly Father whom we all share, however, who, far from providing only fleeting hugs, offers everlasting compassion and comfort. St. Therese of Lisieux, as part of her “little way,” compared God’s embrace to a toddler learning to walk, yet, not yet able to even ascend one stair step yet, attempting to reach Daddy (God) a the top of the stairs,
“From the top of the stairs He looks down at you with love. Soon, won over by your ineffective efforts, He will come down Himself and, taking you in His arms, He will take you away into His kingdom forever where you will never have to depart from Him.” – Therese of Lisieux
As we continue our trod together through this world of horrors, perhaps we can join together, no matter which side of the political divide we affiliate with, and pray for the well-being and safety of our country. Let us strive to get back to a time where we can agree to disagree around the coffee pot, yet still be friends. Instead of provoking civil unrest and violence with our lips, may our prayers be lifted in hopes of clarity and understanding. And finally, instead of shrieking in horror when we are scared and unsettled may we instinctively fall backward into the waiting and expectant arms of our Eternal Daddy.
Leave a Reply