My grandfather 13 generations back was William Bradford, co-writer of the Mayflower Compact and eventual leader of the Pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. There were some 102 passengers and about 30 crewmen on that ship that braved horrible weather, disease, and other hardships to come to this new place that later would become the greatest Christian nation in the world. Bradford wrote, “So they committed themselves to the will of God, and resolved to proceed. In several of these storms, the wind was so strong and the seas so high that they could not carry a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for many days.” The trip in and of itself to find a place to worship without persecution was most difficult.

Once landed, it was no picnic either. Bradford says, “But soon a most lamentable blow fell upon them. In two or three months’ time, half of their company died…scarcely 50 remained, and sometimes two or three persons died in a day. In the time of worst distress, there were but six or seven sound persons, who, to their great commendation be it spoken, spared no pains night or day, but with great toil and at the risk of their own health, fetched wood, made fires, prepared food for the sick, made their beds, washed their infected clothes, dressed and undressed them; in a word did all the homely and necessary services for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear mentioned.”

“…And what I have said of these few, I should say of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living, that while they had health or strength, they forsook none that had need of them. I doubt not that their recompense is with the Lord.”

Their Virginia Company Charter, however, called for common ownership of land, property, food, drink, clothing, and provisions. Bradford saw that this socialist experiment was detrimental to the colony because it inspired laziness and a lack of productivity. Bradford then did away with this structure, giving ownership of land to each person and two days a week for “their own private employment.” This was the first capitalist system, and the colony then prospered.

The headlines 398 years later are that nearly 39 million Americans (the total population of California and Connecticut combined) likely will eat their Thanksgiving dinner purchased by food stamps. Liberals say, without the government, these people would starve. In reality, without the government, the citizens across the land would be blessed as the Pilgrims were by reaching out and helping their neighbor from the goodness of their hearts.

As written in 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.”

Bradford knew in 1620 that government won’t save you. Only the Lord will save you. He chooses to do it through his people.

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While the so-called “blue wave” never reached tsunami stages, there was enough to turn the House of Representatives over to the Democratic Party’s gavel. In the Senate, however, the watermark rose for the Republican Party as it gained several seats. The ebb and flow of blue and red waves leaves the good ship Republic of America afloat in perilous waters, possibly unable to navigate—not as bad as the Poseidon in the 1972 movie, “The Poseidon Adventure,” but here we are in the day after and there is a lot of damage to the Republic. While the maps all show that the nation is predominantly Republican, as reflected by the Senate, urban areas are sharply divided with far-left Democrats.

What does all this mean?

On the surface it means that enough far-left Americans, primarily in highly populated urban areas, bought the vitriolic rhetoric, abandoned the appreciation of the economy and job security, and voted revenge.

It means that Americans will face the next two years of government brought to a standstill because of “communist-like” tribunals investigating every wild-eyed, conjured-up scandal that comes to mind.

It means that there will be an official platform for the “resistance” to continue its propaganda, now even louder. It means that division caused by political parties will be placed far ahead of the welfare of the citizenry.

It likely means that Washington, D.C., will earn a new name—Subpoena City.

But there is a deeper meaning to all of this. It exposes a flaw in the two-party system. George Washington believed that political parties would be divisive and dangerous to liberty and limited government. He warned in his 1796 farewell speech,

“You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies and heartburnings which spring from these misrepresentations; they tend to render alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection…they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”

Washington believed an inoculation against the undermining by political parties was electing moral and religious leaders. He said,

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them.”

Exodus 18:21 says regarding good government: “provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness…”

How can those who deny God, fear God? How far have we progressed to even be forced with that choice? This is the day after, and I guess there’s got to be one.

​Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!

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