I imagine times are tough for two of my Christian friends who live in Muslim countries. Both have disappeared from social media for months. I had just been composing stories about them for publication here when they stopped corresponding. I fear the worst. Though we are not facing persecution in America, we, too, live in tough times.

The last two presidents have polarized the public in ways I had never dreamed possible. Liberals now mistrust and fear conservatives the same way that conservatives mistrusted liberals during the last administration.

No longer are our national leaders people of good moral fiber. They, in fact, seem to pride themselves in personal debauchery. No one trusts national elections to be honest. Everyone fears that, someday, a president will simply refuse to step down. Not a week goes by without some publication mentioning a looming civil war. No one has stepped forward on the national level to provide true leadership both politically and morally.

Hard times, though, are not all political. Both conservatives and liberals ignore or neglect the true scope of many social problems. The disappearance of the middle class, the plight of the working poor, homelessness, and legalized abortion all seem to be problems that no one on the national level dares to address. The collapsing healthcare system is just one symptom of a larger problem: the disappearance of quality jobs. Everyone but the super-wealthy suffers. But, no one left or right wants to see the bigger issue.

Yet, no where in my Bible do I find where it says, “Follow me, and I will give you a perfect economy, a caring government, and money to fight your cancer (for example).”

Jesus sees things from an eternal perspective, where we see only the past and the immediate. Our God does make several promises of an eternal nature to which we – I – should greatly cling.

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

• Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

• Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

• Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

• Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

How does one accomplish such “beautiful attitudes?” By prayerful and determinedly seeking the heart and mind of Jesus Christ.