For some, curiosity drew them to the beach. Some joked about how strange the scene was. Others were confused—arriving for a pleasure cruise only to find many vessels stranded on the sand. But it wasn’t until the water returned—slowly at first, then suddenly and with force—that people began to seek higher ground.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a powerful documentary on the devastating 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, which claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people. It showed tourists and locals alike mesmerized by the sudden low tide—unaware that it was a precursor to disaster.

Some wandered toward the shoreline out of curiosity. Some laughed. Others came for a boat ride, only to find the boats beached.

But the moment the tide returned, creeping in at first, then crashing in with force, people finally began to run.
Sadly, not all made it to safety.

Days later, I found myself caught up in the political drama unfolding in Washington, D.C.—the Affordable Care Act debates, the debt ceiling crisis, and the government shutdown. My Facebook feed lit up with friends choosing sides, and others doing their best to rise above it all by staying focused on more uplifting topics.

But as someone who loves America—and the remarkable opportunities it has offered to everyday people—I’ve grown increasingly concerned about the policies and ideologies that seem to chip away at what once made this country so exceptional.
Did you know that America’s Constitution is the longest-standing governing document still in continuous use in the modern world?

By comparison, since 1945, Italy has had 61 governments.

According to John McCormick’s Comparative Politics in Transition:

• France has had 23 constitutions since 1776.

• China: 4 since 1949.

• The Soviet Union: 4 in just 59 years.

• The Dominican Republic: 25.

• Haiti: over 20.

• El Salvador: 16.

• Honduras: 12.
  ... and the list goes on.

What made America’s Constitution different was its deliberate design to block the rise of the power-hungry. Checks and balances weren’t a happy accident—they were a safeguard, carefully crafted to ensure that government would never grow more powerful than the people it serves.

Most are familiar with the checks and balances between branches—Executive, Legislative, and Judicial—or between political parties. Fewer know that a key check was meant to exist between Federal and State powers.

Originally, there was not meant to be:

• A Federal income tax

• A Federal education program

• Federal welfare programs

No matter how noble these may seem, they were supposed to remain state-level responsibilities, keeping the Federal government in its proper, limited role.

John Locke, a philosophical forefather of our Constitution, said that the purpose of government is to protect life, liberty, and estate—not to provide what we don’t have, but to protect what we do.

When the purpose of government in the people’s minds shifts from protector to provider, the unraveling begins.

Because with provision comes strings. And over time, strings become cords. To accept them is to place trust in power—hoping those in charge will always be benevolent. History offers very few examples of that kind of luck.

The recent gridlock in Washington? Our Founders saw it coming.
In fact, they designed our system so that opposing sides would have to work together, slowing the tide of sweeping change, forcing debate, and protecting individual rights. Rather than being frustrated by the standstill, maybe we should pause to appreciate that opposing views are still permitted.

Heaven help us if they ever aren’t.

Yes, some amendments have improved our system. But others have quietly eroded the very protections they were meant to preserve. Well-meaning people, voting for seemingly good legislation, have unknowingly helped dismantle the safeguards that once shielded us from tyranny.

Good intentions, historically, have blinded people to dangerous methods.

Related Post: A Vote for Broccoli

It’s no wonder the Constitution seems outdated to those who want the government to provide more. It was built to limit government reach.
But when those “compassionate” goals are realized despite the Constitution, dependence begins. And dependent citizens forget how to:

• Think

• Solve

• Strive

• Contribute

• Achieve

• Thrive

And frankly, that’s convenient for those who prefer power over liberty. Dependent people don’t push back as much as those willing to sacrifice “life, fortune, and sacred honor” for freedom.

Related Post: Control vs. Freedom

So even if we don’t have a dictator now, with so many constitutional protections discarded, what’s left to stop one from rising? Without protective restorative amendments adopted, both Democrats and Republicans (and everyone else) are dangerously vulnerable.

These Federal programs, noble as they seem, have paved the way for mandates and overreaches we never dreamed possible. And maybe you’ve wondered:
Why would anyone oppose such helpful programs?
Why would anyone fight so hard against government “help”?

Maybe you’ve assumed those people are cruel or heartless.
But maybe, just maybe, they’re trying to preserve your last layer of protection.

The revolutionaries who secured our freedoms were rebels—obnoxious, inconvenient, and completely misunderstood. The British government didn’t like them much. In fact, they were probably just as bothersome as today’s so-called “right-wing nuts” trying to block yet another law that trades freedom for comfort.

And that’s where the tsunami footage hit me like a ton of bricks.

As the shutdown unfolded, my feed was full of sarcasm and satire.
People laughed at the absurdity of barricading open-air monuments.
Jokes flew:

“If we declare the southern border as Federal property, will they finally secure it?”
“The Washington Redskins have dropped the name ‘Washington’ because it was too embarrassing...”

And I realized:
America has lost something precious.

The Constitution, once designed to hold the Federal government back, has been so carelessly amended and disregarded, that government overreach is now expected. Even accepted.

Those of us who see it for what it is—we’ve been watching the tide go out.
We joke about it.
We point.
We gawk.
We post.
We tag.
We call others to “come and see.”

But still, there is no widespread alarm.
No understanding of what the receding tide really means.

Some didn’t notice until it touched their own lives. They thought they’d enjoy a nice ride on the ACA pleasure boat—until they found it beached. Premiums were sky-high. The website wouldn’t load.

And still they say, “How curious. No matter. We’re happy to help. The government is so nice.”

Cue: "Ice creaaam... Lollipops...!"

But they don’t see the wave coming.

Yes, I’ve waded into these waters—at the risk of reputation and even readership.
But I’ll continue, because my conscience demands it.
And at the same time, my husband and I are quietly moving to higher ground.

The tide is back. It’s up to our knees. And it’s gaining force.

For us, higher ground means stripping away what doesn’t matter.
It means strengthening our relationship with God, tuning into inspiration, and preparing for whatever may come.
It means following the four principles that qualify us for divine intervention.

You may wonder why, as someone who teaches positive thinking, I would spend so much time talking about something that feels so heavy.

As I’ve said before:

...after having enjoyed our new success for several years, we made some careless investment decisions. When we finally became completely conscious of the problem, we believed that we could “make” those bad decisions into good ones somehow just by “thinking right”.

...in every adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit, [but] that doesn’t mean the adversity will go away with right thinking. It only promises that something good can be born from it.

So yes, I remain optimistic. Hopeful. Inspired.
Not because I’m ignoring reality, but because I intend to rise above it.

So while it may be tempting to plug your ears and hum “lalalala,” the reality is this:
These issues will affect you.
They will affect your children.

You can wait until the wave hits… or you can start moving now.

Visualize the life you want: your freedom, your happiness, your prosperity.
Hold that vision.
Take inspired action.
And don’t be surprised if that includes something like getting politically involved. (Gasp!)

Related Post: Americans Take Heart

Your role may look different, and that’s okay.
If enough of us hold the vision and do what we feel called to do, this nation can endure.
I believe God is orchestrating its preservation—and I hope we wake up in time to be part of the miracle, not the mess.

But with so many protections already gone, restoring the balance will require more than hope. It will take informed citizens, active engagement, and yes—miracles.

Wink.

Yes, you can still set goals, live your purpose, and expect miracles—even when the system makes it harder.
But if you don’t start moving to higher ground now, the flood may take your chance before you even get it.

Stay tuned.
Together, we’ll explore how to face these challenges, apply true principles, and create miracles—in our lives and in our country.

Upcoming topics:

• How (and why) to have a civil political discussion

• The Law of Polarity: what good can come from political conflict

• The heated political debate where I was proven wrong

• How to not lose credibility with the fence-sitters

• Why I walked away from a six-figure income

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•  If you want more step-by-step guidance on creating the life you really want, join me in the Mindset Mastery program.
•  If you want my help overcoming that giant obstacle right in front of you, learn more and sign up for Genius Bootcamp.