*By Julie Barrett, Founder, Conservative Ladies of Washington
As I was driving east on Hwy 2 today from my home in Snohomish County to Lake Chelan for a week of R&R I marveled at the breathtaking beauty of Washington State. One of my favorite stretches in the entire state is the section along Hwy 2 that winds and bends along the river those few miles before you arrive in Leavenworth. I don’t know how a person cannot look at the blue-green river, calm and peaceful and then roaring rapids just a moment later, the forests with the scars of wildfires lining the mountains and the sandbar that looks like the best place to spend a lazy day alone with a book and not love this state. It’s stunning. To me, these sights are further proof that God is real and that he is amazing! (not that I needed it)
As I drove this stretch I thought about the contrast between this beauty east of the mountains and the ugliness that has been created specifically in Western Washington. Certainly, God does not want the state of Washington destroyed and surrendered over to evil. That’s what it is…evil. Each day we see more of the destruction of the nuclear family, destroying the uniqueness and specialness of our sexuality, dividing us up by the color of our skin, calling good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20).
I get moody about this. I have days where I wake up and I’m ready to take the gloves off and let’s GOOOOOO! I am ready for battle! And other days I feel like I just can’t handle another day hearing how much deeper the evil has gone into our schools, our businesses, our churches and HELLO!, our government. I start praying over all the things and it just feels so big, like there’s too much and I don’t know where to start with the “doing.” How do we fix all this?
It’s easy to react to what’s going on around us. If I’m not careful, I can get really stressed out about and emotional a variety of different issues that directly impact me or my family. When I’m in this mindset, it’s easy for me to react to things without giving careful thought and thinking about my long-term strategy. I want to fix it all and I want to fix it right NOW! And it’s big.
Some days it gets overwhelming – like there’s no possible way to right this ship. I’ve had many days where I just want to toss up my hands and leave this seemingly God forsaken place. And someday, we might. But I know it’s not time yet and that means I have to dig in and do the work because I know, on days like today, I know, that God has a plan for the people of Washington. We may never see it in our lifetime, but I do believe the work we are called to be doing today is necessary if there is going to be anything left of America for our children and their children. I mean what’s the alternative…”sorry kids, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to do much more than vent on social media about all the garbage that was going on.” Not an option. Men and women fought wars and died for this country, surely we can do more than we are.
I would like to ask you to think of the issue we are facing today that is nearest and dearest to your heart, you’re passionate about it. Now, I want you to compose a letter and send it to every single Republican representative and senator in the Washington State Legislature. Think about it: all of the Republican leaders in Washington suddenly get these heart-felt emails about various different issues from passionate constituents around the state. What we need them to do is take notice – that we are awake and that we are ready to fight but we need their help. It’s time to put an end to complacency and apathy on the part of Conservatives and Republicans.
Will it make a difference? I don’t know. I imagine all the republicans getting a few thousand emails, not about bills, but really telling them our personal stories about why we care about an issue and compelling them to help us, and they take notice. Maybe it inspires them. Maybe it’s the emails they’ve been waiting for to step up and get moving on some of these really tough issues. Ask them to reach out to you. Ask them to call you to discuss your issue and how they can help. Why not?
What we’ve been doing hasn’t been working. I don’t know if this idea will get any traction, but I do know that telling people who have the power to do something in this state is a far better use of our time than telling all our friends on Facebook or Twitter or Parler…or wherever you post. Let’s try it. Why not?! What can it hurt? If nothing else, it allows you a chance to say what you need to say…and sometimes that helps us a lot.
I’m not saying this will fix anything. I’m just saying that if we’re going to talk about what matters to us, let’s be talking to the right people.
Here is the full email list for the Washington State Legislature Washington State Legislature
Just my 2 cents…thoughts from a short road trip over the mountains. Take it for what you will.
