The Simple Life at Home

Fox News reports a grandmother being spit on, screamed at, and shoved around during a rally for gay marriage rights in California. One man is even shown stomping repeatedly on a cross she had brought with her. She was there to make her voice heard, just as they were.

Is this the tolerance that the left has cried out for? Apparently tolerance only goes one way. They want it shown towards them, but don't believe they are to show it to those who disagree with them. This is no surprise, really? It's been this way for years.

But the rallies that are going on in California have pushed things to a new level. The protesting of the Mormon church has gone into overdrive. I, for one, while disagreeing with the Mormon doctrine, am happy that they had the guts to stand up for traditional marriage. They are paying the price for it now, but it was still the right thing to do.

Our society has slipped, no make that tumbled head over heels, down a path which leads us more and more away from God. To those who are protesting, that's good news. But to those of us who strive to live our lives to honor God, it's scary.

What it boils down to is that people are angry. Angry that God expects them to follow His law. Angry that sin is not acceptable. Angry that you can't do whatever you want. Angry that right is right and wrong is wrong.

Look, there are things that I would like to do. I'd love to just pick up that beautiful purse that I saw at the store and walk out with it. I'd love to drive however I like, without regard to the law or those around me. I'd love to keep my iPod and cell phone on when the stewardess tells me to turn it off. But I don't. Because it's wrong. There are laws and rules for a reason.

I think that I've been very charitable about the fact that my chosen candidate did not win this presidential election. This is our system of government. An issue (or a candidate) is put to a vote and we live with the results. Peaceful demonstrations are good and often necessary. But when you are talking about what's going on in California, that's just plain wrong.

Does no one realize how drastically our country has changed in the last few decades? Perhaps the 50's weren't the idealized life we see in "Happy Days," but surely it was better than what we have become. Millions of babies being murdered for convenience's sake, murder rates skyrocketing, children killing children, people caring only for themselves rather than considering their neighbors.

It has become a world of anger and selfishness.

This is what happens when we omit God from our lives. We become obsessed with our own wants and desires and will strive to satisfy them at any cost. Not only do we neglect God, we neglect our community and our neighbor. All that matters is "me, me, me."