No Need for a Milk Carton Campaign...

Hi all,

I know you haven't heard from me in a while. I abandoned this blog for a bit after having some spiritual conflicts. More specifically, I noticed people who called themselves Christians doing negative things in the last days of the recent presidential election--Sarah Palin, at rallies, turning a deaf ear to people screaming about harming then-Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and also Elizabeth Dole incorrectly calling out her opponent, a longtime church-goer and Sunday school teacher, as being "Godless" in an attack ad of the same name. (The mudslinging ad ultimately caused Dole to lose the election.) My spirit did not sit well with such actions and got me questioning what it means to be a Christian.

I do feel more encouraged now, having developed a more prayerful relationship with God. I also had a good talk last week with my pastor that helped me to put things into perspective. He shared with me a recording of a recent Sunday sermon that had a timely message for me; once I check with him for permission (and figure out how to post the thing!) I will provide the audio.

So, no, no glamorous reason for going missing. No alien abduction, didn't win the Powerball and move to the south of France, didn't assume another identity in a CIA operation. I just let my struggles get the better of me. I thank God for setting me straight.