Serious talks, comedic debates

         I’ve lived long enough to be embarrassed by a presidential debate. We’ve got serious problems in this country, and we’re dancing around ideas like they were hotter than the sun, and we’re saying things that should never be said by presidential candidates.

         Enough, already.

         There was a time when serious people talked about serious issues. Then Moses died. The people were stunned, worried, concerned. Where would leadership come from?

         And God said, “After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours.

         “All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

         Don’t be timid.

         Don’t get discouraged.

         God, YOUR GOD, is with you ever step you take.

         I cling to those ideas, those notions, those ideas while persons who somehow have become presidential candidates (one of whom will BE president soon enough) squander the truth, call each other names, act without common decency, and show themselves to be dangerous at worst and incompetent to hold the office at best.

         Seriously. Where will leadership, true leadership, leadership that will save us come from?

         Strength!

         Courage!