Can You be Too Good?

Recently, Vanity Fair set out to reveal the real Mitt Romney, to expose his dark side. From the article we learn that Mitt Romney has been a devoted father, an extremely loving husband (always an "Anything for you, Ann" attitude), a faithful member of his church, has given up trivial social activities for the more important things in life, and has been frugal in insignificant things to save for important things ("Kids, don't waste water!"). His tax records reveal he has paid millions in taxes (at a rate higher than 60% of Americans), has paid a full tithe to his church, has his own charitable foundation, and in 2010 he gave away 14% of his income to charity (the typical American pays 2 to 3 percent, including Newt Gingrich who gave away 2.6% on his over $3 million income). We learn that he actually walks the talk.

A politician who is a good guy? One whose actions generally match up with what he says?

What a turn off, right?

Apparently. It seems that good is being called evil, and evil good.

I won't say Romney doesn't have flaws, but they're certainly not worse than the other candidates'. What's sad is that people seem so desperate to find something wrong with him that's big enough to rule him out that they're holding his outstanding qualities against him.

Today I read the kicker: Mitt Romney has been claiming to be more like the people (more normal, you could say) because he hasn't been a politician his whole life. But Newt Gingrich says he's "more normal" because he's had multiple affairs in his life. Bahahahaha! This is what Gingrich said about his affairs:

"So, I think in that sense, it may make me more normal than somebody who wanders around seeming perfect and maybe not understanding the human condition and the challenges of life for normal people."

For Gingrich to think Mitt Romney is a weirdo for not cheating on his wife says a lot about his values, does it not? And if the American people agree with him....wow, we've come far.

(How can a party concerned about traditional family values beat up Mitt Romney and ignore that Gingrich doesn't understand that a marriage vow is a non-adultery pledge?!)

Anyway, why have we decided that virtue is now suspicious? That fidelity is a handicap?  That making money in such an efficient way must mean conspiracy? Why should we give the advantage to the guy with more vices in his life? When electing someone, I don't think, "I want someone just like me!" Am I a politically-savvy, economic genious who is brilliant with foreign affairs and a pro at fixing the economy and finding sustainable solutions to national crises (aka important qualities to have as president)? NO! I want someone who is much better than me. If someone is able to achieve a higher level of character and success, shouldn't we latch on to him since it sounds like he knows what he's doing?  



Weirdo Mitt Romney and his wife he doesn't cheat on because he's abnormal.



Is it that Romney stands a little too straight for most average people to be comfortable with him? Something is wrong with a society that says, "I want a president to be good, but not that good." Why set the bar so low? Why vote for Joe Average if we're offered something better?

Is Mitt Romney too good to be elected President? I mean, he does have perfect hair and his first name isn't also the name of the cousin to a gecko. With hair like that, how can he possibly relate to us and uphold the values of us "normal people?"

Maybe he should have cheated on his taxes a little.

A Little Alone Time Never Hurt

 

A year ago today my class left the Jerusalem Center and drove to Egypt. Yeah, I wish I could say I am doing something that cool a year later. We drove through the deserts that Moses walked through and the deserts that Lehi made his journey through, near the Red Sea. 

First we played in the most epic sand dunes you'll ever see. I remember the sand was so fine it had the properties of water.  Unfortunately it wasn't a place I wanted to take my brand-new camera to so I have no pictures. 

Anyway, after playing our hearts out in the sand dunes we were told to go off by ourselves for half an hour and just ponder. 

So there I was, out in the middle of the desert by the Red Sea. Surrounded by absolutely nothing but sand and sky. No trees, no buildings, no mountains.

I went far from everybody. 

And yet, I felt everything but alone. 

My heart was SO full.

We had some paper and a pencil and I distinctly remember writing about how un-alone I felt. How I can feel alone on campus surrounded by 33,000 people but out there with no one I felt so close to God.  The true purpose of our life on earth just spoke so loudly in that silent, empty atmosphere.

I thought about when Christ spent 40 days in the wilderness, and wondered what He thought about. He probably thought about us--His brothers and sisters He would save. And it is because of what He did for us that I was able to feel so close to God out there in that isolated landscape. 

This quote by an archaeologist who excavated in Israel says it best:

"When you are placed out in the middle of nowhere and denied most of the conveniences you are accustomed to, you become grateful for things you never realized you were blessed with before. 

It amazes me that I could be completely covered with dirt, have blisters on both hands, sore muscles, flies flying around my head, and an upset stomach, and yet feel so completely blessed for experiences in which physical discomfort teaches patience and gratitude. I started thinking past the physical and material things because I was living on so little and was amazed at how little I need materially and how much my whole life depends on my Father in heaven." ~Janene Wolsey