Rove's Departure Bittersweet for this Christian

Karl Rove left the White House this week, bringing a sigh of relief from fellow Republicans. But for many Christians on the left it was a bittersweet moment. For me it brought back to life memories of the days after the 2004 election. After 2000, despite anger over dirty play by the Bush team, most Christians, left and right, continued to work together on the church’s business , which hopefully is the same as God’s business. The days following 2004 were different. This past Sunday morning on the Chris Matthews show, Dan Rather said winning the 2004 election was Rove’s crowning achievement. For Christians on the left it was a blow to the solar plexus. Not only were we more convinced than ever that Leo Durocher was right, “Nice guys finish last,” but we as Christians began questioning whether we could continue embracing brothers and sisters who didn’t see the overwhelming immorality in using America’s power to deal so much death. Instead of concern over the great questions of war and peace, life and death, they had railed on about whether God would vomit at the thought of two men making love.
In the days following the election, I read online how the suspended bombing of Fallujah had resumed and of two families caught unawares who tried to escape the city. The first, a family of three were killed when their car was struck. The second, a mother and teenaged girl, escaped alive, but bomb shrapnel tore into them, ripping off the girl’s leg. I made the mistake of picturing the scene: The mother and daughter looking down at where the leg had been, the horror in their faces. In my mind’s eye I saw the girl’s face and she looked like one of the girls in our youth group. I couldn’t get over it and day after day, when I saw Bush or Cheney, or Rove on TV that horrified girl came back to me looking just like one of our own children.
I had recently been elected one of the co-lay leaders of our church. After about a week of suffering with the wounded teenager I decided to make a statement by resigning as lay leader. I just couldn’t make common cause with people from whom I now felt so estranged. We are a large church and have 70 people on our executive committee. Our pastor, who had been criticized himself for not waving the flag enough from the pulpit, circulated my letter of resignation to all 70 church leaders. In the letter I talked about my feelings and how I was haunted by the girl’s broken image. Some called me arrogant or were angry that I questioned them, but we’ve come together again these few years later to find common ground where we can share God’s love and work.
I didn’t change the world with what I did. I took a small step to let my brothers and sisters in Christ know how strongly I believed that God’s will on this is unmistakable. And I believe if we Christians ever do mend our broken culture that’s how it will happen: from the ground up, one small step at a time. Don’t ignore your opportunities, small or large, no matter whom it may offend.