The Perils of Involvement

My friend Brad is running for mayor of my city and I'm convinced he's nuts.

The hours are awful (basically, 24/7), the pay is even worse, the perks are minimal and the pains are potentially maximal (think about trying to serve the needs of an amazingly and beautifully diverse community of individuals, each with his or her own agendas and worldviews and beliefs and dreams and beefs).

Why would anyone purposely throw himself into a den of hungry lions who are ready to shred him to pieces?

Here's a guy who's an attorney and could be making lots more money than the mayor's salary pays, willing to take on all this junk in order to make a difference in the lives of the citizens of our community. His opponents say that he's got his eye on a higher prize - a senate seat, a governor role, heck, maybe even President someday and that means he's using this as a stepping stone. They say that he's originally from the neighboring community which happens to be on the other side of the river and, consequently, in another state, so that makes him a poor choice. They say that he's raised campaign funds which allow him to buy 5 billboards in our community, so that means they think their votes can be bought. Anything to stir the pot.

I realize that anytime people get involved in anything they subject themselves to heated debate. However, I’m more concerned about those people who create the debate without being involved. The most effective people are those who are willing to be on the court instead of in the stands.

Perhaps the question is not so much why would he subject himself to the teeming masses as it is why are the masses teeming? What's with all the mudslinging? Is that what politics is all about? You couldn't pay me enough to be a politician.

But thank goodness there are people like Brad who are willing to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in order to make a difference. Feel free to visit him at Swenson For Mayor.

Thanks for your inspiration, Brad. Regardless of the outcome of this June's election, you've given me some new food for thought. Maybe politics is not my calling, but is there something else I could be doing to be on the court in my life instead of spectating?

How about you?