Dream On, Political Realism, About Avoiding WWIII At This Point

In ‘The Case for Christianity,’ C.S. Lewis writes the following gem of a paragraph we would do well to dust off and meditate on, with how often, and thoughtlessly, this or that foolhardy innovation is given a veneer of sacrosanctity on the basis of “progress.”

“We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.”

The implications could not possibly be greater for American society in the year 2023, where no facet of society has been left unaltered by the steady march of “progress,” along certain ideological, philosophical, and theological lines.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” as Proverbs 4:23 puts it.

Generally, this is wise. But consider it specifically in relation to the quote from Lewis, if you will, and then pair it with Proverbs 18:17.

“The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.”

For good measure, mix in a pinch of Proverbs 22:3 as well.

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

Taken together, these pieces of advice can be a powerful tonic against being swept up in bandwagon parades with dead ends. Conversely, if we abide in them all at the same time, and only if we do, thinking outside the box about what is worth turning away from, holding fast to, and conserving is blown wide open.

That is to say, ironically, these keep us from supposing that all change is beneficial, as well as guiding us in picking our battles as to when change is critically important, and even a non-negotiable to have a good end.

Yet we should also recognize that, as finite human beings, we cannot prevent change, or the pursuit thereof – either in an impersonal way, or when those around and over us are striving to achieve it. And thus we narrow our focus to how we respond to change, and make our goal to have a good attitude and mindset.

Only in this way can we be politically realistic, and steel ourselves for the potential upheaval which World War III, for instance, will represent for every sector of society.

The fact that this can be so challenging may be why it is being debated currently, rather than known one way or another, whether we are already in WWIII, or what to make of James O’Keefe being removed at Project Veritas after the bombshell exposure of pharmaceutical giant Pfeizer, and its gain-of-function research in development of COVID vaccines.

Change is a constant in life, tis true. But only certain kinds of change are permissible, while others meet with stubborn reality, and the fixed laws of the universe, laid down by the Creator of the heavens and earth, as well as all we who reside here.

Thus we may as well embrace change, even as we reject the foolish notion that all change is progress, since certain kinds of change are beneficial, while other kinds of change have been shown throughout history to have bad outcomes we ought not to desire or emulate.

Even so, and just there, it is important to note that there have always been men, at all times and in all places, who lurk in the shadows, and wait in the wings, anticipating change, ready to insist that this or that reversal or plot twist makes imperative their desired modifications to behavior or norms.

Yet God will be the judge and determiner of who and what endures, and this is a comfort.

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