Tough Topic Tuesday!

Robert Burns, one of my dh's favorite poets (because he's a Scot) once wrote in his poem, To a Louse, "Oh would some power gie us the giftie to see ourselves as others see us." In the poem, a girl is sitting in church with a new hat. She is positive that all the looks and pointing is because of how envious everyone is of her new finery. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is that there is a louse on her hat, and everyone can see it.

The girl is feeling pride and joy. Precisely because she is wrongly interpreting the actions of those around her. The disconnect between her perceptions and reality prompts the poet to write the piece. Perhaps, because he has been in the same position before, and he wishes that God would give us this great gift. How many of our embarassing moments could we be spared if we but had that ability?

It isn't ours though. We don't know how others see us. So often, we are convinced of our position... and we don't look at reality. I'm seeing a lot of that in the election campaigns today. Not in the candidates themselves so much, but in those who follow the candidates.

Anywhere you look online you can find evidence of pure hatred, and nasty meanspiritedness towards those who support a different candidate, and towards the candidates themselves. In many ways these well-meaning supporters are like the girl with the hat. They think they are getting attention that is favorable to their candidate. They have an honest belief that they are right and that all the finger pointing is because others agree with them-- on both sides.

Tragically, though, the attention is really that horrified fascination the other churchgoers had in watching the louse on the brim of the girl's hat. The reality is that the negativity and anger have an opposite effect. I don't signal out one campaign or the other-- the fact is that this disgusting behavior spans both parties and both groups of campaign supporters.

I really hope that at some point the Lord does give us the "giftie to see ourselves as others see us." That gift is more desperately needed now, than at any time before.