March 28, 2024

Did you ever change your mind?

On Sunday, Aug. 9, I was honored to hear Dr. Ben Carson speak at LifePoint Church here in Osceola with my family. I encourage everyone to watch the video on LifePoint’s website. It was not a campaign event, instead it was a humble man sharing his story and his beliefs.

As I was walking out of the second service I overheard a woman ask, “Is it possible to vote for a Republican when you have always been a Democrat?”

My first reaction was the citizen who asked the question was joking, but one look of her facial expression led me to believe she was not joking. She was asking a serious question.

I explained to her that in the Iowa caucus that she could only attend one party platform, however when it comes to the general election she could vote for anyone. This same lady went on to tell me that she was not sure why she was a Democrat, but her father is and that is why she is.

This got me to thinking – Have you ever changed your mind? When do we ever become too old to stop learning?

Our nation is changing, we have a national debt that is higher than ever, we have social media seems to fuel negativity and citizens that do not vote or vote one way or another because that is what they were taught decades ago.

It may be worth asking yourself: In the past 20 years, on what issues of importance have you changed your mind, recalibrated your thinking, or even attempted to take a fresh look at the issue?

Or has every issue been given serious study and new set of facts merely confirmed what you already knew? Or to put it another way: Do you think you’ve ever been wrong?

As the presidential candidates parade around Iowa, please take time to listen to all the candidates no matter their party affiliation. Listen to what they are saying, ask is he or she only repeating what I already believe or are they giving me substance to think about.

Allow yourself to hear different perspectives and learn new info even if it disagrees with what you already know.