Checks and Balances or Just Gridlock?

I don't know how you're feeling about last night's election results, but it's definitely a change.   Just as it was two years ago.  Let's pray that the next two years aren't like the last two.  Let's hope that the division of power in Congress next year will force both sides to work together for positive change.  That certainly seems to have been the intent of the founders of our Constitution.  Checks and balance among the three branches of government that would provoke vigorous debate and eventual compromises for the greater good of the country.

Perhaps one of the saving graces is that all three groups - Republicans, Democrats and the members of the Tea Party experienced some losses that, hopefully, will produce a certain measure of humility and a deeper sense of purpose.  That all of them will realize just how tenuous our future is if we continue believing that the enemy is each other.  As the apostle Paul reminds us, our struggle is not against flesh and blood (each other), but against powers and principalities and the spiritual forces of evil.  Powers and principalities of our own construction and control and spiritual forces of evil that can reside in any human institution, even an American one.

A large portion of the populace can't afford the luxuries of political theater.  They can't afford to travel cross-country to rallies.  They can hardly afford to drive across town to work.  They don't have the disposable income to make large campaign contributions. They struggle to contribute to their own survival.  One of the strengths of any democracy is empowering those that have no power or voice.  Now that the results are in, it's time for all of us to come together and work through our differences.  The challenges of the future are great and the potential for gridlock is even greater.  Finding common ground and working for the greater good will be the greatest challenges of all. God help us all.