I spent a lot of time last year explaining to folks that it was a Blue Moon election year. Last night was the first Blue Moon since then...
In politics, of course, a "Blue Moon" is the rare occurrence of Congress being at the top of the ballot with no Senate or Governor's race. Now we think of it as what we call the second full moon occurring in the same month, but any farmer will tell you it really means having an extra moon in the growing cycle. Last night I saw it coming home after a long day of teaching followed by my 'second job' of making fundraising calls, and started reflecting on the sacrifices I make being away from my family to do this and the sacrifices I'm asking others to make of their time, money, and other resources.
Of course, the last Blue Moon, at least as far as political terminology goes, was November 2006. That's the off-year when amazing things can happen like completely unknown and under-funded school teachers coming within 330 votes of upending entrenched multi-millionaire incumbents. And to be honest, a near upset that close, especially after all of our hard work can weigh on you. It's frankly exhausting work running non-stop, year-round for Congress, but the Blue Moon I saw coming home reminded me it's all part of a cycle and we have to sow the seeds if we want to have a bountiful harvest.
I'm a man of faith. I felt called to run and answered that call as you all did, knowing we had to have faith and work hard to make this happen. If you truly want a miracle, you really do have to be willing to get out of the boat. My journey to run for Congress actually began before that day in church though where my preacher was reminding us of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee; but rather, when Tina and I took my daughters to deliver supplies to needy families in South Africa. I wanted my girls to realize how important service to our fellow man is, and of course like we parents often do, I ended up learning as much as my daughters. I saw where Nelson Mandela spent his imprisonment on that trip, and started reading his inspiring biography, coming to realize anything is indeed possible.
"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." ~Nelson Mandela
I could never have taken on Robin Hayes and the political system without your heads and hearts and inspiration. I knew, as did you all, the mess this nation was truly in, and that the career politicians running tired, old, strictly political campaigns while promising change were never going to be the answer.
Forgive my long post, but I want to share this reflection from 1st Corinthians 9:24 with you on where we are today.
(24) Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.
That's exactly what we are doing now. We ran to win, and in a sense we all did, but more importantly we’re running now in such a way that we will win. My staff sat me down early on and laid it out like this - Larry, we're going to be running a close race. We'll either win by 500 votes or lose by 500. It'll be that close. And if we're on the wrong end of that near tie, don't plan any vacations. We just planted the seed and we'll have to continue our campaign.
Friends, I'm so proud of the way you all helped plant that seed. We're starting 330 votes down with a year and a half to simply build on our success. Actually we're not starting at all since in fact we never stopped. The Blue Moon last night just reminded me that we are simply in a longer growing season.
So as I continue the journey now, I find comfort in remembering:
"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." ~Nelson Mandela
I'm truly blessed with so many good friends in my extended family – my fellow teachers, my friends from nearly 30 years in textiles, my church, and now you, my political family. The way you have stood with me and embraced our campaign is nothing short of amazing. I just hope you know how much your faith in our efforts means to me.
I remember well when I started this campaign and was first told by folks in the Democratic Party, the DCCC, and other experts not to run; supposedly there was no way I could even expect to win the Democratic Primary. I was then told Robin Hayes was invulnerable and that I'd be lucky to get 45% of the vote. You and I though knew then that it was time for a real change, just as we know now that real change is still on the horizon. Some folks I meet seem to think I should be bitter that we came so close and seemingly could have won with more help. To them I usually quote two of my favorite sayings of Martin Luther King, Jr. "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." and "You should never succumb to the temptation of bitterness."
Now that my phone calls do get returned by folks like Rahm and the DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen, it just means we've got more help in our fight and I'm grateful, though don't think that will ever change the way we run our campaign. We are in this to complete our journey.
If you'll indulge me a little more, 1st Corinthians continues from the last passage I mentioned in a way that really explains exactly what it's like to run for Congress:
(26) So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; (27) but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others, I myself should not be disqualified.
It is exhausting, for all of us, and won’t get any easier, but it is all worth it. I know many of you think the efforts to take back Congress were less than satisfying in reality given what's happening in the Iraq War debate. I can't say that I entirely disagree, though I remain a proud and loyal Democrat. What I said all during my campaign though, and will say a million times over between now and November 2008 remains true, if not truer than EVER...
It's not about taking Congress back, it's about taking our Country Back ...and friends, we've only just planted the seed!
God bless. I'm heading to work for the day, but mine's already better for the fellowship you've allowed me this morning.