Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

  It was the best of times for one side, the worst for the other to paraphrase the great author, Charles Dickens, as he opened his classic, A Tale of Two Cities. I’m writing of the ninety minutes heard and seen around the world as a former president and the current president clashed in a war of words aka “The Debate.”

            It would be natural for the side that “won” to gloat, somewhat, but in reality, there is “no joy in Mudville, Mighty Casey has struck out!” In contests that pit one side against another, most of the time there are winners and losers, and, honestly, losing one battle is not the end of the war.

            However, if the loss is so overwhelmingly clear, there could be questions that arise that ask something like, “What now?” From many corners, supporters and opponents have asked that question.

            I remarked to a friend that the debate saddened me. Most of us have experiences with those, some old and some not so old, where confusion and memory lapses begin to show. We see it often these days in our parents as they age and other family members and friends. In our highly medicated society, we have treatments and pills for many illnesses, but just what to do with these mental challenges and declines, we have yet to find a good answer.

            The debate was last Thursday and, in a mini-comeback on Friday, President Biden held a rally and gave a speech in North Carolina. He seemed to be much better and the teleprompter helped. A teleprompter, as you know, is a transcript of remarks that can be seen on an almost unseen screen. In other words, the speaker reads his remarks instead of speaking extemporaneously.

            At the debate, there was no teleprompter for either of the opponents. Donald Trump is gifted at speaking “off the cuff” and is very practiced at doing so. Not so much with Biden, who may have been talented at an earlier age, but, currently, needs the help of a teleprompter.

            That would be alright for most people and most jobs, but the presidency of the United States of America is the most difficult job in the world and calls for someone who can think deftly and creatively at times. Like in discussions with foreign leaders who just might be seeking to take advantage of our nation.

            For many Americans, the view of the current president on Thursday night may have been disconcerting and, as in my case, saddening. I have my opinions of his administration’s policies, but nothing but compassion for his physical and mental health. And it’s not just because he is the President, but because he is a human being and, there, but for the grace of God, go I!

            Still, there is the question, “What now?” We, Americans, weren’t the only ones who saw his faltering. The enemies of our nation saw it, too. It’s a weakness, but not because the President is to blame for his decline in physical and mental health.

            The job of the Presidency of the United States is 24/7. It calls for a clarity of mind and physical stamina that is almost unlimited. It’s our responsibility, as citizens, to choose someone who fits that bill. The Presidency is a very unique office and there are times in history when the world seems a calmer and more peaceful place. Unfortunately, that’s not the current situation.

            I’ve never seen more challenging times than presently. As we will be celebrating the birthday of our nation’s independence this Thursday, we need to pray and thank God for our freedom to choose and ask Him, “What do we do now?”