Will we choose wisely this election?

Recently, we've been re-watching the Indiana Jones movies. In the third film, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” Indy sets out to rescue his Biblical scholar father who has been captured by the Nazis and the adventure turns into a quest for the Holy Grail or cup of Christ.

This quest has been the lifelong dream of Jones, Sr., while the Nazis seek to possess the Grail for its supernatural powers.

This race for the Grail converges in a cave in the North African desert, where an ancient Knight Templar guards it. In an inner sanctum, this knight waits with a collection of goblets and a spring of fresh water to be relieved of his guardianship.

But as the Nazis’ and Jones' parties vie for control, Indiana is faced with a difficult choice -- choosing from among the collected cups to save his wounded father. Just seconds before, Indy had watched a Nazi, who desired the Grail for his own wealth and power, choose incorrectly, drink and evaporate to dust.

“He chose . . . poorly,” concludes the old knight, who watches these events calmly.

So Indiana Jones passes his gaze across the cups and asks, “Which is the cup of a poor carpenter?” And when he sees a rough, unadorned water goblet, he grabs it, fills it and drinks.

“You have chosen . . . wisely,” declares the knight slowly. But will we?

This story came to mind as I was preparing a sermon (I serve as a worship leader in a 7-church charge in Page County) based on Solomon's request for wisdom. In my preparation, I spent time reading about Proverbs and found my study Bible described that book as representing “the democratization of wisdom.”

In this election season, that phrase stuck in my brain. In other words, wisdom is offered to all people. It's not just a gift; it's a pursuit you can choose.

Or not.

With regard to the election, I think too many of us have given up pursuing knowledge to make wise choices. Instead, we simply react to whatever's presented - either getting mad or blindly accepting messages repeated so often we don't question their truth.

I think the best example of the latter is Reagan”s quote: “Government is not the solution to our problems. Government IS the problem.”

Great sound bite, but was it true?

Not if you like your armed forces or Social Security or Medicare or public school or student financial aid or Veteran’s Administration benefits or farm program or public roads or post office or police and fire departments or flu shots or hosts of other government services.

Meanwhile, this meme was repeated until it became accepted truth. Through both Republican and Democratic administrations we’ve been told private entities (like Wall Street banks) operate more efficiently than government. Yet does history bear this out?

Google “Iraq no-bid contracts” and read how private contractors bilked our government out of millions of dollars by overcharging for services military personnel used to perform. Why?

Because under the government-is-the problem argument, we've repealed regulations that protect the public and downsized or dismantled agencies responsible for oversight. Another is the “America's failing schools” meme. Many accept education reform is needed, yet polling shows most are satisfied with their own school. We never question the meme or those promoting it. Yet American school children are taught reading and other concepts at earlier ages than ever. And all American children are educated and tested; even developmentally disabled students have plans to help them reach full potential. Other nations do not do this, so test score comparisons touted in media compare apples to oranges.

These are but two examples. It’s not difficult to find others if you are willing to look - to pursue the knowledge. That’s our job as voters; it's how we arm ourselves to make choices like the one in November. So I can’t help wondering, will we choose wisely?