Our Proposed Health Care Plan

I purposely avoid political topics on this blog because I find that people are often blinded by the terms Liberal and Conservative or Republican and Democrat and therefore unable to simply discuss issues. I've also found that I'm a strange mix of all of the above because my Lord is too and the Bible seems to be somewhere in the middle too. I don't see our problems as right or left but a result of the fact that we have no moral compass. The government wouldn't have to solve problems if people - especially those that can - would take care of those who can't.

I am concerned about the Health Care Plan currently proposed for our country though. Concerned that it is a knee jerk - a LONG overdue knee jerk - reaction to a non-critical problem. Don't get me wrong, we have health care problems and a disproportionate percentage of people do not get the care they deserve. But we also have an incorrect view that health insurance is a right just like home ownership. Neither is a right, nor are they the only solution. People can get health care without insurance - it happens ALL THE TIME! Yes some do, but most hospitals do not turn away sick/broken people. Likewise, people can have many forms of shelter that does not involve home ownership.

I could go on and on but won't right now. Instead, I encourage you to read this post and see if you believe this is a good proposal. Here are two or 50 points from the article.

• Pg 30, Sec 123 states that there will be a government committee that decides what treatments you are allowed and what your overall benefits are.
• PG 429, lines 10-12 give an Advance Care Planning Consultant the power to order end of life plans for a patient.

I thought this bill was supposed to prevent the disproportionate use and availability of health care. These two items clearly contradict this idea. The government will decide who gets what and when and they will decide when a person is no longer worth the expense of life. And btw, don't tell me that's not what this means.

One last thought: I hate the title of this post because I am not against Obama. I didn't vote for him, but I do believe him to be an intelligent man that wants what's best for our country. I also don't believe this is his plan, it is the result of many, many people's thoughts, concepts and ideas. On that note though, it unquestionably represents a society that believes government to be the solution to any and all problems (and the Rebulicans are guilty of this too). And that with limited resources available to government, the solutions must also rate the value of people.

Like I said, it's a moral issue. 

Faith and the Art of Motorcycle Riding

My son and I took a beginners' motorcycle riding class last weekend. My wife - yes, really - suggested he sell his car during the first few years of college and get a bike to ride when he's home. I, in turn, suggested the riding class and volunteered to attend with him to make sure he was taught correctly.

Okay, I admit it, I've always wanted a bike and will get my own as soon as I can (I'll also get to use his while he's gone too). I know, life's tough.

Anyway, among the many things I learned in the course (and let me know if you'd like info, I highly recommend it) were three key takeaways:

1. The bike will go wherever your head turns.
2. The bike performs best under power.
3. Everyone's out to kill you, or something along those lines.

Just like life.

During the training we were given opportunities to manuever the bikes through different degrees of turns - both sharp and more rolling. I struggled with these seemingly simple tasks until the instructor told me to stop looking at the cones on the ground and turn my head towards where I wanted to go. I thought he was crazy when he said to simply look at the end of the turn and give it the gas. Then I did it and the affect was exhilerating. Not only did it go where I wanted it, but the bike was remarkably stable despite increasing speed.

My life goes wherever my head turns too. I can talk about not having enough time, wanting to do this or that, my heart's desire to finally wrestle crippling sins to the ground or follow my life's passions, but the fundamental truth is that where my head goes, so goes my life. And this explains why my life is often wobbly too.

Then there was the lesson about power. I had thought that power applied to the wheels would upset the balance of the bike and that lessoning the power or applying the brakes would bring it back under control. In fact, the complete opposite was true. As the instructor said, the bike is designed to move. Upright.

So am I.

I'm not designed to fear, hesitate, over think and plan. I'm designed to move under power. And just like I controlled the bike, I move best when I'm controlled too. And the only control that works is my God. Daily.

Which brings me to the last point. The instructor never told us to be aware that people would be out to kill us on a motorcycle. He didn't feel he had too. In fact, it wasn't about what he said at all. Rather, it was about the tone of what he said - a matter of fact, "you know it's true, don't you?" I sensed he believed it to be such a truth that it didn't warrant discussion.

I share his perspective. I mean, you do know that your joy, peace, wonder and life is opposed, don't you?
Don't you?

A Wife's Concerns

I found this list on my phone today as I cleaned it out for a swap. Thought I'd share someone's perspective on the items of concern for a wife:

1. Affection
2. Conversation
3. Honesty and openness
4. Financial security
5. Family commitment

Beyond saying "yes and amen", I have two thoughts: financial security does not mean riches, it means bringing #'s 1, 2, 3, and 5 into your finances and I'd add a sixth: Be a man who leads from strength.