Nelson column – Why not look up?

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The elections are now over, the incessant phone calls have stopped, and the annoying TV ads have ceased.
Thank goodness!
A diet of constant negatives, half-truths, outrageous claims, put-downs, and nasty accusations can surely give us a case of political indigestion.
Now we need to return to a healthy diet of positive visions, affirming positions, constructive rhetoric and audacious hope.
As citizens in a nation that celebrates its freedom, we are challenged to become ambassadors of kindness, goodwill and justice here at home and in the entire world.
Speaking to the people of Israel, the prophet Isaiah said, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
Isaiah went on to say, “the Lord shall judge between nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:3-4).
As a people in this great nation, it would do well for us to ascend the mountain of the Lord that we may learn his ways and follow in his paths.
The ancient psalmist, directed his people by saying, “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1).
As people of faith in this 21st-century world, what better time is there than now for us to look up to our Creator God for help.
With God’s grace, we can discern his directing ways and enable us to truly be his people.
My prayer is that we will all pray for our nation, its leadership and its actions.
It is obvious that we need God’s help. Rather than lamenting our national ills, its shortcomings and its failures, may we be drawn to work for its up-building, justice, goodwill and shared concern.
The dawn of a new day is filled with all of the anticipation and hope that it will become a good day. With God’s blessings, our nation can anticipate the dawning of a new day of acceptance, respect, concern, goodwill and justice as well.
As we approach the holiday season, we sense the reality of the proclamation that Christ is the Prince of Peace. What a blessing that our message at Christmas is that God has come down to us in order that we might go up to him.
Let us see the future from a vantage point of the high mountain of God’s presence, because it is from there that our help will come.
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Dr. David P. Nelson is interim pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Salisbury.