From our own loves and selves, we would only be evil and no longer even human. But the Lord is constantly flowing into us with His Divine Love and Wisdom and drawing us towards Him and heaven. We are predestined for heaven. We are born into evils of every kind and yet we are predestined for heaven.

“All reason shows that man must be regenerated, for he is born into evils of every kind derived from his parents; and these evils have their seat in his natural man, which of itself is diametrically opposed to the spiritual man. Nevertheless man is born for heaven; although he does not enter heaven unless he becomes spiritual, and he can become spiritual only by means of regeneration.”

True Christian Religion 574

I think there are a lot of people in the world who sincerely try to be good. There are people choosing to do evil, but I think a lot of people are trying to follow the Lord or at least trying to do good to the neighbor.

“Do not fret – it only causes harm.” (Psalm 37:4)

The political scene at the moment, in both my home country (USA) and my adopted country (UK), is rather bleak. Their citizens’ futures are uncertain. It’s a bit scary for the likes of me. I’m trying hard to take the long view, and to trust that the Lord is keeping an eye on things. I fear that times might get a lot worse before they get better, despite my confidence that the Lord will ensure goodness eventually comes out of whatever situation arises (in the broader world too with its own multitudinous troubles). Maybe, as with personal regeneration, my two countries will have to reach absolute rock bottom before they can learn better ways of working and begin to climb back up. It will not be an easy journey.

With no inclination to become a politician, I’m focusing on things I can do, trying to be an optimistic influence rather than a pessimistic doom-monger in my little corner of the globe: smile at those I meet; be kind, friendly, and helpful where I see need; play with my grandchildren; take part in my community; find fascination and beauty in the natural world; recycle and reuse as much as possible. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; … and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3, 4

“Man is born not for the sake of himself but for the sake of others; that is, he is born not to live for himself alone but for others.”

True Christian Religion 406

It can be hard to see how your actions affect other people. I do something selfish but consider it relatively harmless because no one else will know what I do or do not do. But the point isn’t even getting away with something because no one will notice. Sometimes I really fail to see the point of bettering myself. How does running help the neighbor? If I sleep-in instead of going for a run the only person I’m hurting is me. And is it really hurting me? I could make an argument for it not.

Who do you change for? Well, spoilers, you’re supposed to do it because the Lord says to. You’re not supposed to change because other people want you to. Also, they might not want you to change for the better.

My husband, Al, is Chairman of the Republican Party in Butler County, Pennsylvania.  I am Vice Chair.  What do you think of that?

In many circles, our allegiance to the Republican Party is greeted with an embarrassed silence.  In others, with veiled hostility and disgust … but in Butler County, we are welcome!  Even so, I was actually glad that the political control of the U.S. House and Senate is now divided, because I had a trip scheduled to Los Angeles, CA and Tucson, AZ the weekend following the election, and I dreaded the thought of discussing politics, or avoiding the subject, with my family and friends.

My family and friends.  There seems to be an assumption that everyone agrees with the protests and media attacks on the state of our country since the 2016 Presidential election.  There is another country out there, whether people know it or not, but I know better than to state my views freely with many people I have always considered “friends”, within and outside the New Church. Their friendships are too important to me.