Life Lenses

October 26, 2022

“Everything is political.” I can’t remember who said this, but in the end, it’s true. Especially as midterm elections draw near, we are aware that every decision we make has political overtones that will affect our lives for years to come. As former president Obama said, “Elections have consequences.” And another political operative intoned that “it’s not who votes that matters; it’s who counts the votes.” All the hubbub over our last presidential election and the integrity of the coming midterms may prove Josef Stalin to be strangely prescient in our present situation.

“Everything is educational.” I don’t remember anyone saying this, but we know it to be true. Who does the teaching is as important as what is being taught, as we are learning from all the raucous school board meetings in places like Loudoun, Virginia. We know that bigotry and hatred are taught by word and example at an early age, and that the involvement of parents in the educational process is of prime importance. 

“Everything is economic.” This is a big one, with inflation running between 8-9% and expendable income declining. Marx saw the world in economic terms and has plagued us with his conclusions for over a hundred years. It may be a successful political platform, but fails as the foundation of all that is truly meaningful in life.

“Everything is scientific.” Again, I don’t remember anyone uttering these exact words, but the media came pretty close during the pandemic, canceling anyone who questioned the “science” behind the vaccines, lockdowns, and masking. Of course, the essence of science is questioning the status quo, but when science becomes politicized, everything changes. Oops...I guess we’re back to my first statement.

“Everything is spiritual.” Again, not in so many words, but I’ve said this many times. Behind the politics, behind the educational or scientific system are what St. Paul called the “rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). To see everything as spiritual is to look at life differently than our secular counterparts. 

My point is, none of these lenses are incorrect; they are lenses through which we see life, how we interpret what lies before us. It is the precedence we give one over the other that makes the difference. What claims ultimate loyalty in our lives? Is it politics? Education? Science? Sports? Economics? For me, it is my faith. I listen to, and learn from, the other lenses, but the lens that brings everything into proper focus is Jesus Christ and the Word of God.