I Want to Believe
I want to believe that there are people out there who want to lead for the right reasons. I want to believe that things can be much better in America and in the world. I want to believe that there are people in this country who can see beyond the color of a person's skin. I want to believe that most people who want to live in peace with themselves, with eachother, with their neighbors.
I want to believe that the founding fathers of this country were great men and that their vision for this country was noble, honorable and great. That despite being set in their time, they had a vision for the future that was both realistic and idealistic. A vision that asked us to address the reality, but reach for the perfect.
I want to believe that there is good. I want to believe that there is a god and that my God, the God, has a plan for all of us. I want to believe that after we die we can continue to live and to meet with the ones we have loved in this life.
I want to believe all of this. I know it's naiive. I know it reflects weakness in me and perhaps an inability to cope with reality. But something in my heart tells me its right to at least want to believe in these things.
A McCain presidency after watching his campaign, after watching these last eight years, will further crush this desire to believe. An Obama presidency after watching his campaign and listening to his hopeful, reasonable words, will not give me all, some, or perhaps any of the answers. But it will keep this desire alive, at least for now.
These are the stakes for me this election. Really.
This is a beautiful blog. I share your desire to believe. And I assure you, as psychologist, that a desire to believe does not indicate an inability to cope with reality.
Sounds to me like you are grounded in reality and also grounded in your beliefs. I applaud that. And I applaud you for writing this blog.
October 13, 2008 9:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said. Your words describe exactly how I feel.
Thank you for writing this - it's just wonderful!
October 13, 2008 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn straight. I want to believe the end of this temporary hell we've been living in for the past eight years is near. I want to believe.
October 13, 2008 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember reading an article and the first sentence alone stays with me. "A failed Obama presidency would fundamentally, mentally and emotionally do more for America around the world than a successful McCain presidency would do." If you really think about that, it is so very true.
October 13, 2008 11:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
First of all, thanks to all the kind readers who have offered supportive words. Its especially good to know from a professional that my keel may be more even than I thought. ;-)
But to theone718's point, Obama just making it to the presidency is worthy of global celebration.
Still hoping, still believing.
October 14, 2008 8:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I want to believe it, too. And most of the time I do.
This is a real crossroads for our country. I hope with all my heart we, as a country, choose a hopeful, uplifting future, rather than a hateful, divisive one.
October 14, 2008 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for your post.
I do believe. I hold a place for you to believe too.
October 14, 2008 6:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I do believe and have much purpose in life because of faith in God, our Eternal Heavenly Father; Jesus Christ, his son, our mediator through whom we ask of Our Father; and the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead who will inspire, educate, comfort, and protect when worthily and genuinely seeking answers and companionship of God.
James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. . .
We do not know much about Obama. I do know he supports abortion. That is not of God. I worry he will also lead us to assisted deaths. Our liberal society has strayed far from what is of God! Personally, I endorse McCain because he has displayed an upright position on issues, despite his own frailities.
October 14, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do believe and have much purpose in life because of faith in God, our Eternal Heavenly Father; Jesus Christ, his son, our mediator through whom we ask of Our Father; and the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead who will inspire, educate, comfort, and protect when worthily and genuinely seeking answers and companionship of God.
James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. . .
We do not know much about Obama. I do know he supports abortion. That is not of God. I worry he will also lead us to assisted deaths. Our liberal society has strayed far from what is of God! Personally, I endorse McCain because he has displayed an upright position on issues, despite his own frailities.
October 14, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Illegal war. Torture. Detention without charge. Rendition. Bin Laden not captured. Global warming. Energy policy inaction. Poverty. Class disparity. Katrina. Infrastructure collapse. Huge deficit. Financial collapse. No accountability.
McCain is complicit.
Stop hiding behind the abortion issue. I am against abortion, but I believe if you attempt to legislate against it you create a bigger problem. As Obama says, lets try and reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.
October 14, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
redbush:
Will it really? I think the desire to believe is stronger than that. Just as suffering the death of a loved one is terribly wounding, the desire to love again is not extinguished.Oh, yes, and NO WAY McCain is going to win this thing.
October 14, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, really. I'm already struggling. A McCain victory would further crush my ability to believe in these things. Should it happen I will have to move on to a different kind of dream, somewhere else.
Really.
October 14, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I discovered recently during a relatively quick read about the "seven deadly sins" that the deadliness of the sins derives largely from the loss of faith that leads one to give up living the Right Way according to God's will.
Have faith in you ability to improve whatever reality we share... Or try, at least. Failure is possible if one tries, and is guaranteed if one fails to try.
This from one whose beliefs are unrelated to any sort of magic, but rather one who believes that to stop trying is to stop living. It may sound trite, but it takes every scrap of discipline that I can muster to keep trying in trying times...
October 14, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink