One Of Us!

St. Paul, Minnesota

I will never forget attending a meeting in Washington, where both President George Bush and his wife Laura, spoke.

Laura Bush opened the event she was beautiful, eloquent and brilliant.

She blew us all away!

And then there was President George Bush.

He wasn’t very brilliant. He was `ok`, but definitely not amazing.

But what brought us all over?

It was the simple fact that although George Bush didn’t bowl us over – to tell the truth he came across as being pretty nutty - Laura Bush sure did.

We just loved her! She was real and just like us.

I think we all concluded `He sure doesn’t have it, but if she was with him, he must be pretty good too!`

I have met John McCain many times in conjunction with working to try and get his support for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq.

He is always prickly, mean and short tempered.

A typical reaction to asking for his support for Christians in Iraq would be `we don’t support any particular group.`.

Not exactly a `one of us` comment!

In fact there might be a bit of history that makes him so `prickly`, particular to those of us of faith.

My father, Kennu Joseph Senior, knew John McCain Senior.

A second Generation Admiral, commander of the Pacific Fleet, he was a strident advocate for freedom.

Often when he would meet my father he would say `Pray for my son! He is away from God.`

John McCain Senior, was known as a godly man, rising up early in the morning to spend a hour or more in prayer, apparently much of it for his wayward son.

I think I share the same reaction of most conservatives of not being particulary excited about John McCain.

Why have we reluctantly supported him?

Because lined up with Barack Obama, he is clearly a choice of the lesser of two evils.

But, Sarah changed everything!

We may not be particularly exited about John, but like Laura Bush with George, if she is on his side, he must be ok!

Why? Because she is one of us!

Just listen to her words!
`They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America.`

`By the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome.`

`I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.`

`But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. `

What was so difficult about listening to the Democratic Convention?

They didn’t use our language and the few times they `prayed`, you could run a knife through the thick, icy atmosphere.

For people of faith, real faith it is words like `the Grace of God`, `a Servants Heart` and `prayer`, said in passing that grips our hearts.

We know for all the human frailties and the brilliance of campaigns and political rhetoric, at the end of the day we are at best Servants of God.

For some reason we will only understand in Glory, God chooses each of us, in spite of ourselves.

What finally put just about everybody over? The simple fact that she is `normal`, too.

Married, five Children, struggling to balance everything and a daughter that got pregnant before she was married.

Thank goodness for that sweet daughter. That really convinced me she is truly `one of us`.

Being people of faith, doesn’t mean we are perfect. It simply means that we see the world through glasses of hope, belief, faith and a higher purpose.

It means that we struggle every day with the same problems, disappointments and human failings as does anybody except for two special words, quoted by John McCain when asked what was meaningful in his life.

He replied `I believe in forgiveness and redemption`.

People of faith are not better, but simply forgiven and redeemed.

Is John McCain one of us?

Not quite yet, but with Sarah and the prayers of a special father on his side he is on his way!

Ken Joseph Jr.