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From CNN.com:

"FINDLAY, Ohio (CNN) –- In an interview posted online Wednesday, Sarah Palin told Dr. James Dobson of “Focus on the Family” that she is confident God will do “the right thing for America” on Nov. 4.

Dobson asked the vice presidential hopeful if she is concerned about John McCain’s sagging poll numbers, but Palin stressed that she was “not discouraged at all.”

“To me, it motivates us, makes us work that much harder,” she told the influential Christian leader, whose radio show reaches tens of millions of listeners daily. “And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God’s hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4.”

She also thanked her supporters — including Dobson, who said he and his wife were asking “for God’s intervention” on election day — for their prayers of support.

“It is that intercession that is so needed,” she said. “And so greatly appreciated. And I can feel it too, Dr. Dobson. I can feel the power of prayer, and that strength that is provided through our prayer warriors across this nation. And I so appreciate it.”

The interview was taped on Monday by phone while Palin was campaigning in Colorado Springs, where “Focus on the Family” is headquartered."


I'm not quoting this to spark debate about the election, or basic politics. I feel their comments raise interesting questions about how they view God, and prayer.

If Palin loses, will she say it was because:
A) God did not consider her or McCain to be the best candidates?
B) God had no control over the outcome of the election?
C) God did not chose to "intervene" because people didn't pray hard enough?

I'm sure there are other options.

Does Dobson's comment about praying for God to intervene mean that he believes God is usually "hands off," unless specifically petitioned?

It seems to me that they regard God as a magic fairy who gives you things, but only if you want them hard enough.

In any case, they might win, so... we'll see.
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Thursday nights I take Elizabeth to a music class in Burlington. I usually take the hour she is in class to sit in the library, walk, or eat a foot long hotdog at Easterbrooks, a locally famous restaurant. As the weather improves I've been doing more walking through the nearby Central Park. This park contains, among other things, a labyrinth. This particular one is an 11-turn labyrinth, based on the one at Chartres Cathedral. On my previous visit, it was teeming with children running back and forth.

Today, it was raining and cold, and I had it to myself, as it were. Given the date - significant for Pagans and early Christians - I decided to take a turn through the labyrinth. It was a curiously ruminative experience. It seemed to take a very long time indeed to get to the centre of the pattern, and the route twisted back and forth on itself, bringing me to unexpected quadrants of the greater circle. The route, outlined in salmon-coloured stone, reminded me variously of the nestled windings of an intestine (eew), the convulted strand of a knotted rope, or a path through a hedge. Coming to the centre at last generated a thrill of achievement, but upon arrival I also found myself very relaxed. Focusing on the task of wending through the maze sort of concentrated my attention, and I could see how doing this in the long term might create a kind of quiet trance state.

Reaching the centre, I also suddenly realized that the only way out was back in. So, out I went again. And, for several minutes afterward I was in a sort of quietly content and reflective state of mind. Upon emerging, I found it had taken a full 15 minutes to traverse the pattern, even though the circle itself is only 25 feet wide.

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