for Dave Gallik
I know nothing of his personal financial situation, but if he can afford to lose a $50+ thousand dollar a year job and not miss it, he must be well off indeed. I doubt he is that well off, so I imagine resigning hurts.
I hope Jesus will walk with him and comfort him and provide everything that’s needed.
I’ve lost a job in politics before. I’ve had my name dragged through the media in politics before. I know the shame that goes with it, the fear of having to look your friends in the eye.
I hope Jesus will remind Dave Gallik that he is loved.
I read in some of his comments that he felt like Republicans were to blame. I know, because I’ve felt the same thing in my own heart about his side, that no words will ever convince him of the surprise that rippled through our people when we learned this was coming. The truth is, the nature of the first couple reactions I encountered was to suspect a plot against us.
All the time, politicians get humiliated and forced out. It’s one of the hardest parts of the business I work in. It’s not every job where your defeats are a story for other people to cluck over with their morning paper.
Even people involved in the business seem to lose sight of the fact that there’s a human being on the other side of the headline. Just a man, with his own struggles and foibles and pain. Dave Gallik, Brad Johnson, and many more. Just ordinary guys doing a job that, when you lose, requires you to be humiliated in public.
Every day, I wish I could leave politics for a less stressful job. The opportunity hasn’t been there. And I think the reason is, Jesus needs people here very much. This business needs real love like no other.
In all likelihood, Dave Gallik will not happily receive any kindness or hopes for a brighter tomorrow from me. But it doesn’t need to come from me. I have a friend who can take care of that for me, and I pray that he will.
Bowen, this is well said…….unanticipated……..and incredibly true. I do not share your background and experience. My life has been spent in the trenches of business, where many people believe it’s not possible to be a Christian and a capitalist. The last 3 years of my life have been spent in the passionate pursuit of helping to build a “church plant” that I did not start, but God led me to. Those 3 years happen to also coincide with my involvement with politics. It is my conclusion that God also led me to that. So………Bowen………..”never grow weary, in doing a good thing”
I know what you mean about how people feel about Christianity and capitalism, Jay. Thanks for commenting!
Bowen,
This is so well-said and really hits the mark. I, too, have been at the brunt end of hyper emotions in politics and all I could do was to invoke all my strength not to quit. You’re so right that God needs the faithful to work in the political arena – every arena! But it’s so hard being Christ-like when you’re getting stabbed in the back or publicly raked over the coals. I read in my devotional today the reminder to thank the Lord for our trials (see James 1) because it builds perseverance and character. (Oh, how reluctant we are, in our flesh, to accept this admonition.) When we’re in the crucible of politics (and life) we must look to Christ to identify the reason for it so that we can process and grow from it within his grace. When we look back in retrospect we see that he is molding and shaping us not only for something great, but for the mundane. What a wonderful thing it is to know that Christ is working in our lives and that he can, if accepted, work in the lives of others.
I really appreciate that, Glenn, especially about thanking God for trials. It’s true, and I’m sure we all know it from personal experience. Something can seem unbearably painful as we walk through it, only to be revealed later as a fundamental part of something great that happened.