Healthcare reaction

My feelings today are a little raw.  The Health Care Reform bill made a big advancement yesterday and was signed into law today.  I am happy about that. If I had my way the politicians would have worked harder on a synthesis.  I think the democrats acted high handedly and the republicans were obstructionists. If both sides had approached with open minds and synthesized each others ideas, things would be much different in this country.

How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes. Psalm 133

Today I am faced with the backlash. Those who don't feel that this bill represents them are up in arms.  I suspect, perhaps incorrectly, that much of this is from fear, and may blow over when the "armageddon" predicted by conservative pundits and lawmakers fails to happen.


Even though this bill isn't the synthesis of ideas I wanted, I am happy it has passed.  The need for reform is so great that I am angry that it has taken so long. I am angry at the backlash. Lord soothe my anger with the oil of unity. Help us to stand together.

My brother JD has been handling this with more apparent grace than I have. He has been able to engage those who comment in the midst of their anger with probing questions like: what does healthcare mean to you? He wants to have an honest conversation and when people parrot the pundits, he pushes back looking for more critical thought.  I applaud him.  I pray that as a nation we can find a way to have honest conversations about these important issues.  Change must come, 32 million people without adequate healthcare is not acceptable. If ever there were an example of systemic injustice to be addressed by the people fo Christ - we have one before us.

Perhaps this touches close to home. My mother-in-law delays treatment because of the cost and gets pneumonia.  My children have health care because of the generosity of the state of Michigan, and the day after Ella begs us to take her to the dentist so she can have healthy teeth (weird girl) the dentist sends a letter addressed to her.  When she opens it with joy, she finds out that they are telling her they will no longer accept her coverage. What happens if the church becomes able to pay us a living wage?  Where will we go for insurance when we no longer qualify for state assistance?

There are millions in this boat.  And Christians should do something about it and not hide behind party politics. We in the Assemblies of God have some stepping up to do to fulfill our fourth reason for being: to show God's love through compassion.  I am so excited that that is one of the core reasons for our our being, and I am proud of the ministries like Convoy of Hope and Healthcare Ministries who have been doing so much in the ravished places of the world. We need that to connect consistently to the hearts of the people in our pews.  We can give no place to fear mongering, and charged words like Socialism.  These words have become absolutes for good or evil and have lost their meaning.  They are unhelpful in honest discussion.  Instead we must live out of the center of love for Christ and the poor he values so deeply.

Ok. My rant is over, I got it off my chest. May God soothe my heart and lead us all in the ways of peace.