A Parts-Led or Self-Led Political Walk

Lots of things I ponder. I remember Charity Kenyoza from Malawi teasing me about my “pondering,”but he called it more like “pawndering.” We laughed. He was correct about his new friend.

I am pondering the current political scene, who’s who in DC, especially in and around the White House and its current resident. I am pondering you dear reader, and I am pondering me.

It was Dr. Richard Schwartz who developed a meta-framework for our internal system, or our “parts,” and how they are organized in all of their lovely complexity. We are hopefully more often than not led by our “core self,” the self that loves, perceives, is balanced, compassionate, and in touch with the bigger picture of things, the aspect of our true selves that leads almost effortlessly at times. Then, we have our “manager parts,” those parts that attempt to control, avoiding pain and suffering, that would rather tamp things down rather than bringing them out in full force.  Then we have our “exiles,” those parts of us that feel shame, hurt, abandonment, rejection, and deep woundedness. Then, we have our “fire-fighter” parts, those that are good at creating distractions when the focus is too much on pain. Those parts can be impulsive, erratic, intense, and can set one distraction after another when the “manager parts” are losing control.

A therapist has to do a skillful job of negotiating those parts and their internal complexity. Oftentimes, we have to negotiate with the “manager” parts in order to get to the pain of the “exile” parts and we have to put up with relational shenanigans upon putting focus upon the “fire-fighter” parts.

You and I both know, and perhaps you and I are some of those that we actually know, who support and defend the president*. I do not doubt that good people support him and his policies for good reasons. While I may think they are misguided, you or they may think that they are well-founded.

The president* is a parts-led president. Look at his tweets. They are often emotionally unhinged, erratic, angry, spiteful, full of rage, full of denial, and self-promoting and all. We could spend all day on a deconstruction of his character, his parts, and his policies. Most curious is his ability to allow his own “fire-fighter” parts to create diversions when things are getting too hot, or too close to home. But that is another story. For more information on this theme, check out Woodward’s book, “Fear.” It describes a parts-led White House, staff, and president*.

I am most curious about how good Americans support this man and his causes. He is mean-spirited and insults all manner of people. Women, minorities, politicians, and others do not escape his wrath. His hell-bent for power tactics on the world stage are bankrupting our farmers as well as the auto industry and others.

Still, 30% of our country support him. Note that this is not a majority of us, but only a minority that is vocal and defensive in posturing toward him. Many of this group I know. They are friends. They are family. They are good people. They are devout, god-fearing people. However, I am dismayed at what I observe to be the distinctions between their well-lived lives and their not-so-well-lived life of the president and his policies they support. 

Are we self-led or parts-led in our defense of him? Are we well balanced in our assessment or are we blind to his flaws? How is our theology dancing along with our political sensibilities?

When we assert that he is God’s anointed, self-led or parts led?

When we assert that he is making American great again, self-led or parts led?

When we assert that he is an astute business man, self-led or parts led?

When we assert that the economy is going great, self-led or parts led?

When we assert that he is bringing back greater respect for America on the world stage, self-led or parts led?

When we assert that he is going the right thing by engaging us in an economic battle around tariffs and China, self-led or parts-led?

When we observe the number of areas of his administration that are being investigated, self-led or parts-led?

When we observe his family members in the WH as well as his businesses benefitting as he is in the WH, self-led or parts-led?

When we observe the goings on the border (or is it "boarder"), displaced families and children, death of young children, and disenfranchisement of those asylum-seekers, self-led or parts-led? 

When we ignore his racist, sexist, homophobic, insults of all manner of citizens of the US and the world, self-led or parts-led?

When we certain that he is getting America back to being a Christian nation, saying “Merry Christmas,” and functioning at did King Cyrus as God’s anointed, self-led or parts-led?

When we are dismayed at his leadership, policies, treatment of people, his followers, and our own internal and external responses to them, self-led or parts-led? That is a topic for another post.

Just asking for a friend.

Unholy Mess We Are

Dear Lord,

I’d like to chat with you,

If you have the time

For some things are on my mind,

And you are the right one to talk to.

My prayers to you come out as a lament

While friends of mine seem pretty thrilled

To see those actions and their hopes fulfilled

While me and mine just feel pretty spent.

We are an unholy mess

As I look around at this place

And I hang my head in disgrace

But I love this place I must confess.

Jewish people slaughtered when they met

Worship on their minds and hearts

They unknowingly would depart

Before that holy day would set.

Guy with a gun sought entrance into a church

Door was locked to the black church so he gunned down

Two black people while making very little sound

Except that gun burping away leaving us all in an unholy lurch.

And then that killer down in the south

Made all those bombs and sent them out

To people who’d been attacked by the one running about

Spewing hatred from his wide-open mouth.

Still people coming up from other places

Looking for asylum from pain and destruction

Hope in their hearts and their fear of abduction

Walking the long path with weary worn faces.

While still a thousand long miles from here

The man in the White House sends military down to the border

Just a week from the election, no small order

But we know what is behind his very thin veneer.

It’s all a big unholy political stunt

To arouse his base and inflame the fury

Of people of his ilk will not face any jury

While we worry and pray and bear the brunt.

Some of us keep on hoping and praying

That the man with the power will see his wrongs

Repent of his narcissism but we’ve waited too long

To see any hope of change, you know what I’m saying.

Compassion is lost across this fertile land

Incivility reigns and is seen all day and night

Just watch FOX NEWS, CNN, or MSNBC for the sight

Of people hurting people and kindness banned.

We have chosen up sides to the left and the right

And some in the middle cling to hope

That some ray of sensibilities will help us cope

When our long, long days turned into the night of nights.

We’re going to polls in large numbers as we pray

Then election day is here for all of us to anticipate

That change will come that we can all create

With our children in mind and work for a brighter day.

Lord,

I know that you hear

And that you are near

Though you are above the fray

And that is why we hope and pray.

Amen