How Losing Today May Bring A Win Tomorrow

Had a short discussion this morning with a somewhat locally famous person who ran for the mayor's office earlier this year.

I had been pondering something for the past few months and been wanting to mention it to this person.

It is a very valuable life lesson how an effort today may not gain much ground, but the repercussions of such an effort may become a tsunami of sorts over time.

In one instance, failure is realized and can become the focus or historical marker (what is remembered and thus overshadowing all subsequent efforts).

However, victory after the fact of failure may be unseen or go unnoticed because of the focus on failure.

Placing too much emphasis on certain and immediate expectations, especially tied to one's self instead of the goal of an effort, may prevent that goal from either being achieved or realized.

We all desire to be honored, recognized, or acknowledged for something even though we may shy away from such attention if or when it does happen.

We all have a bit of pride that beguiles us to be attached to things greater than us or outside of ourselves.

Widening and adjusting one's gaze can put things into greater view... and our impact may be more recognized, and hopefully we can remember to put our pride aside.

Although this acquaintance of mine garnered a very small percentage of the vote, his platform is what garnered an attention that surpassed his mayoral candidacy.

The current mayor is very popular and won the reelection largely unopposed.

This mayor is socially very progressive / liberal, independent having his own personal business interests, and moderately conservative economically.

These factors attracted the support of the business community despite the seemingly politically different tangents.

But mass consensus is not how truth is verified, or what is good is realized, but simply a going along with the tide.

My acquaintance's platform addressed homelessness and rent control.

These two issues have taken on a life of their own... with homelessness now having become a greater focus for the mayor's office because of the candidate's efforts.

Although he saw the homelessness issue coming into greater focus by the local government, he didn't realize the rent control idea had come to mass consciousness. 

He was appreciative after I mentioned this to him when explaining my observations.

I had noticed several articles in local newspapers earlier in the year (whenever I happened to pick one up) that explored the idea of rent control... and now this concept is something that almost everyone in the city has talked about and been made aware of.

That's a victory for my acquaintance regardless of one's opinion of the issue and whether it is in fact good, bad, whatever.

This awareness has fostered discussions about whether or not the government should try controlling market rents and whether that effort will be a benefit or detriment to renters and landlords alike.

Rents (and the cost of almost everything else) rise steadily.

This is an issue based on the reality that inflation is a constant.

The struggle besides the issue of inflation is that incomes do not rise alongside inflation (or have not done so for quite some time).

When wages do rise (by a lawful minimum wage adjustment, for example), this happens after much pressure felt by minimum wage earners. 

This is something most laborers and working class people feel, but are unable to do anything about outside of major personal fiscal disciplinary actions (reducing spending / consumption).

It takes great discipline for anyone to save, keep, and grow their monies.

It is those with the greatest personal discipline who usually grow wealthy or nominally independent or stay afloat inflation's constant rise.

This factor of individual fiscal responsibility is usually overshadowed by political wrangling, I think... and this is where arguments like rent control find a foothold while ignoring human nature and how the world has always functioned.

The aim to mitigate greed or one man's pride over another man is one that cannot be legislated politically... rather, it is a spiritual issue.

Homelessness is a more complex issue, I think, because of the variables leading to homelessness... and some variables are possibly still unknown or not easy to discuss.

Why?

I think the 'experts' of homelessness are the individuals who have been homeless and have been brought back into the fold of society.

These experts should be the ones having a voice in policy as it relates to homelessness.

The factors of depression, drug abuse, mental illness, and despair are issues I don't think any amount of money (whether government or private charities) can fully address, but simply touch.

The issue of entitlement, laziness, thievery and excuses are harsh realities that both individuals and government employees have to face.

One thing is the law of the land (and it being enforced and upheld), and another factor is the constant laws evident in nature and defined by God.

Where humanity is able to shine is in following the Gospel teaching when it comes to any issue, especially the concept of paying to exist on the earth and in structures (homes), and that of homelessness.

The Gospel on one hand demands people to work for their bread, and on the other hand demands the defenseless to be taken care of.

Balance.

Those previously homeless for whatever reason, who have been redeemed back into society, likely know first-hand reasons and factors behind their personal homelessness and maybe that of others.

They likely know what helped and hindered them and others... and what may likely work or not work.

The humanitarian issue of homelessness is a topic that has been gaining traction for some years / decades, and the most recent rise I've noticed was after the 2008 world-wide market correction (popularly called another recession / depression).

The issue of poverty is nothing new to the modern scene, but has been a constant throughout the history of mankind.

How does one governing the ungovernable (or those refusing to do their part and be responsible for their own self-keeping)?

I'm not calling the poor or the homeless ungovernable, but each individual who does not follow the law as it has been etched onto their hearts... yet they deny it.

I've stated in previous articles that as one increases in income, prestige, and position, they are also demanded to increase in responsibility, in service, and in character.

The role of a mayor is not one of passive income for the sake of a charismatic character or dispenser of ideas, but one that is to be an example of civility and service to one's fellow man... of dignity, of doing what is right over what is wrong.

This is the very definition of a civic leader, but often times so-called 'leaders' are those who simply give what the mob demands.

This is a peril of democracy, allowing definitions of what is right and proper to be rewritten to compensate for civil decay and human depravity.

Theories of government fail when an individual is not pulling their weight and effecting their fair share in what they do with their hands (their work) and how they live their life (their social impact).

One's impact on others is reflected not only in their economic contribution to society, but their very character and lifestyle.

Would you take advice on how to get in physical shape from someone who has never done exercise in their life?

Sure, they may be able to repeat and forward factual exercise techniques, but they have not done the actual work... so they cannot explain the feeling of strain, but only the challenge of feeling like not doing anything.

A human is not only one measured in fiscal terms (although this is a popular political view of human beings), but more often socially (what the heart sees when reflecting the self).

Although some political points may clarify any given issue, politics largely obscures what is clearly addressed in the Gospel... and the Gospel has all the answers, with victories and failures of humanity found in and defined in the Law (Old Testament).

Where the Gospel is being ignored, or denied, or opposed is where one finds the most disorder no matter the popular consensus of the state of affairs.

It is in an individual's life, or in their home, or in the city they reside in and influence, which reflects a true rendering of value, goodness, truth, and service to one's fellow man.

What is quite paradoxical is how an inept or depraved 'leader' can still preside over the righteous, and the righteous are not so much harmed but immune to the defects of [s]elected leadership.

I have yet to find a loser among the faithful, regardless of their political stance, or their economic reality, or their personal opinions (however wrong or ignorant) on things earth-bound.

I only see victory after victory despite what seems like repeated defeats... and this too is a constant paradox for the untrained eye, but for the trained heart... a manifestation of God's kingdom coming to fruition.

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please Him. 

   A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. 

- Proverbs 21: 1-2

Although some political positions may look like that of high honor or a throne of some kind, I do not see kings nor princes residing in such seats of power.

The nobles I do see avoid such places of intrigue and self-service.