Public Service

I am always intrigued at why people get involved in public service. Their great desire to serve overcomes the necessity of having to engage in the politics. To run for any office means the candidate has to make him/herself vulnerable to public scrutiny and sometimes even intentionally false accusations. It takes a great deal of character and a thick skin to involve oneself in this venue of calling.

I have two friends who are involved in city government. One is a Muslim woman who has been active in all sorts of civic activities in Houston. She is a lawyer and is well respected in the community for her intelligence and fair-mindedness. What’s more she is eager to build bridges between cultures and faiths. This past year she invited me to join her family at the annual Ramadan feast along with the mayor and several other civic officials. She was a most gracious host, making us feel at home and welcome. However, when she made the decision to run for the city council all kinds of mean-spirited accusations were hurled at her, the main one being that she was the lawyer for a well-known terrorist with Al Quaida. Even though it was obvious that this was dirty politics – she didn’t represent the terrorist because she wasn’t even in criminal lawyer, but she had no connection whatsoever. Nevertheless, the things said about her would lead someone to think that she had direct involvement in 9/11. I felt so sorry for her and ashamed for the fact that such negative politicking could take place in the city where I lived. And sad to say, this woman lost her race by a narrow margin. The political scientists and pollsters all said that the negative campaigning was the reason for her loss.

My other friend heavily involved in local politics was for three terms the Mayor of Tyler. He, too, is bright, just and kindhearted. His tenure as mayor marked a time of great progress for the city – new schools were built, roads were improved and taxes lowered. He is one of the most popular city officials I have ever known. He was also a member of our church. I counted on him for insight and wisdom in church and civic matters. And he was always more than helpful when I called on him. However, he told me that he had some troubles with the church, and the troubles weren’t theological. He said that every time he came to church, invariably someone would take him aside and complain about something in the city. His experience at church was punctuated not from biblical insights but civic complaints. And sadly enough, this became so regular that my friend would wait until worship began before he came into church and then he would leave on the last verse of the invitation.

I write all of this because our civic leaders need our encouragement and assistance. Why not think of some city official and write them a note thanking them for their work. Public service can be very demanding, and we need to make sure the good and diligent public servants know of our gratitude and appreciation. Better yet, why don’t you ask them about issues and projects they are working on that could use your gifts and assistance. After all, isn’t that the genius of democracy? And isn’t that also the genius of the church?