An organization called the California Freedom Coalition is attempting to get a petition signed by over 500,000 Californians that would allow the state to vote in 2018 to leave the United States of America. The Coalition is extremely upset because the rest of the country elected Donald Trump as president. They feel that, since California is an overwhelmingly liberal state, they no longer have any kind of relationship with the other states, except maybe New York. They feel they would be fine as their own nation.

          And perhaps they would be fine. Twelve percent of the entire population of the country lives in California, which is more than many countries. The length of the state, mountain areas, coast lines and desert areas ensures citizens any kind of climate they would desire. Even though California is a state, it is the fifth largest economy in the world. California is the home to the most active movie and television industries in the world. The states centers of higher learning are known everywhere. California is a jewel of a state.

On the other hand, they most likely would not be fine. They currently have an enormous debt, which is alleviated to some extent by tax money from the rest of the country. The federal military bases located in the state, which contribute huge sums of money to the state’s coffers, would have to be removed. Oregon and Washington state would likely benefit nicely from that situation. Their centers of liberalism are located in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The rest of the state is actually somewhat conservative. If separation occurred, the US would likely give residents six months to move to the US without problems. After that, they would be immigrants. The state would have to raise taxes to pay for the programs they want, so it is likely a lot of people would move out in that first six months. Tariffs would be levied against all goods coming out of California. Not as punishment, but because tariffs are always levied against foreign lands. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, but without free trade with the rest of the US, that would drop. California enjoys favored trading status with the rest of the world because they are part of the US. Without the US, they would face tariffs from every nation with whom they tried to deal. Would they raise an army and navy for defense, or would they plan on the US for that? California is the most populous state, but it is also among the lowest as far as the number of people who come from therer who join the US military. Only four people out of every thousand people from California join the military. Yet, they will have to raise an army and a navy and an air force. Foreign nations on three borders and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Someone, possibly Mexico, will eat them up. Within a relatively short while, California would be at risk militarily, economically and politically.

From a practical stand point, separation cannot happen peacefully. For a state to withdraw from the Union, there has to be a Constitutional amendment. Getting an amendment passed would require an outstanding majority (more than a simple majority) of all the other states to agree. Amendments can take a very long time to pass. Each state has to take their votes, which can be whenever the governing bodies of those states decide they want. The Equal Rights Amendment of 1971, which would guarantee equal rights to women, has yet to be either passed or voted down. It has been 46 years. Amendments are not easy.

So, would California fight for independence? Raise an army to seize the military bases just like South Carolina did to start the Civil War when they fought to take Fort Sumter? Fort Sumter was held by a small garrison of men. The Naval and Marine presence in Southern California could take out the California National Guard pretty quickly. For California, separation (either peaceful or violent) would be a disaster.

Now, what does all this have to do with the purpose of this blog? Just this; don’t look at things only from your own perspective or personal desire. As Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, the people went wild over him. They were expecting a hero to rise up and overthrow the Romans and they thought Jesus was the one. A week later, when they found out that His revolution was to be a Spiritual revolution, they called for Him to be crucified. He didn’t meet their qualifications. When the hero did arise 33 years later, the Romans crushed the Jews. Thousands died and the Jews were driven from the Promised Land for just shy of 1900 years.

In everything we do, we must ask; is this the will of God? Are we open to His will? Are we acting like Christians? Are we immersed in prayer? We say we want change and growth, but we only want it our way.

I came across this recently, but I first read it back in seminary:

I asked God to take away my habit. God said ‘No, it is not for me to take away but for you to give up.’ I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said ‘No, his spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.’ I asked God to grant me patience. God said ‘No, patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn’t granted, it is earned.’ I asked God to give me happiness. God said ‘No, I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.’ I asked God to spare me pain. God said ‘No, suffering draws you away from earthly cares and draws you closer to Me.’ I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said ‘No, you must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.’ I asked God for all the things I need to enjoy life. God said ‘No, I gave you life that you might enjoy all things.’ I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me. God said ‘Ah, you finally have the idea.’

          Let’s love before we act.