From My Perspective - - -

How does a unique power in History suddenly become a disrespected weak one? What does it take to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory? How can that which has been a Super Success drastically become a Super Failure?  This past week Leon Panetta, Secretary of Defense offered a grim and bleak outcome if the Super Committee of Congress (composed of 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans) failed to arrive at a place where they had a significant Budget Reduction to lower the National Debt by close to 2 Trillion Dollars. Their inability to do so would trigger automatic reductions – 600 Billion being in the area of Defense. Panetta was adamant: Failure Would Hurt Defense.

The publication – Roll Call – reports: “Panetta warned lawmakers in a letter today that the military would face substantial problems if House and Senate negotiators fail to come to an agreement on a massive deficit reduction deal by next week.If the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction deadlocks and automatic across-the-board cuts kick in, Panetta said the consequences would includes the halting of most ship and construction projects, cuts in contractors, and the smallest Air Force in history.His letter reiterated his previous testimony before Congress while more clearly outlining the potential effects of sequestration — the automatic cuts that would slash roughly $500 billion in defense spending as well as other areas of the federal budget.The impacts of these cuts would be devastating for the Department…Facing such large reductions, we would have to reduce the size of the military sharply. Rough estimates suggest after ten years of these cuts, we would have the smallest ground force since 1940, the smallest number of ships since 1915, and the smallest Air Force in its history…As a result, we would have to formulate a new security strategy that accepted substantial risk of not meeting our defense needs. A sequestration budget is not one that I could recommend.”

What is true and possible in Government Affairs is also true in and for Personal Lives. The determining factor for both are the Core Values – those things that define and shape Purpose - that are embraced. Without valid Core Values, Governments and Individuals will drift through life in a listless  manner  (having or showing little interest in anything) – merely drifting from pillar to post. For Nations and Lives, there is an interesting description given regarding God’s People as they wandered without purpose or vision in Psalm 105:13-23 – “…wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, He allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings on their account, saying, Touch not my anointed ones, do My prophets no harm! When He summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom…” The Message Translations states Verse 13, 14 - “Wandering from country to country, drifting from pillar to post, He permitted no one to abuse them. He told kings to keep their hands off…” 

Have you ever tried to function apart from focus, vision, purpose, a sense of God’s Will? Have you ever allowed yourself to be relegated to the “wandering from pillar to post” category? Have you arrived at a point where you feel you are no longer necessary or needed? Or – do you “bluff” as though you are on the top of your game? Do you try to project confidence and ability which you lack? Have you manipulated situations so you might gain status or a position for which you were neither equipped or qualified? Have you attempted to project an “image” that you wished was true – but – you know it wasn’t? If so, like the Super Committee you will be drifting toward Super Failure. 

The lyric to an old Hymn is a good commitment to have – “My times are in Thy hand;My God, I wish them there; My life, my friends, my soul I leave Entirely to Thy care… My times are in Thy hand, Jesus, the crucified! Those hands my cruel sins had pierced Are now my guard and guide.” This is the best core value and safest place to be!  Consider these things with me.