And believe me when I say it, that’s not a good thing.

One of the hardest things I do isn’t writing this column on a Friday morning for deadline. After 25 years of writing with no formal training, I’ve found I can handle 900 words in about an hour or so pretty handily – although many tend to disagree, and many of those even when they agree. I truly am a riddle wrapped in an enigma who over-expounds in Randian fashion, apparently.

No, the hardest thing about this column isn’t to write it, it’s what to write about. To make a single point and fixate on my take on that point from my perspective, which I hope is God’s (sub in the ol’ “creator of the universe’s” perspective here if that’s your take) perspective; at least how I see it. The rest of any interpretation or comment is up to the reader. As it should be.

I guess that makes the point of this column all about the point of this column.

Also, that’s over 180 words down after the intro, so I’m one-fifth of the way home! I’m also past deadline, as I knew I would be when my head hit the pillow last night. Funny how we know what’s gonna happen from experience in our human condition, yet we allow it to happen – again – as our human condition has a way of doing.

But I digress. Again. As my very human columnist condition has on repeat in this space.

So here’s what makes writing opinion pieces so darned difficult in our world today. And it sits in the palm of our hands, or at our fingertips. Now, you might think that’s the fault of your cell phone or computer. Well, partly it is. More important is all the stuff that’s accessible in those devices that really should (and if you look closely, literally has) have nothing to do with your life. Worse, 99 percent of that stuff are all the problems of the human condition.

But just because you are a member of the team via birth, it doesn’t mean you have to enter the game. And yes, I realize that is a fact I am all too guilty of. At least on the surface of my own sanity I’m a proponent of cancelling the game as opposed to being an all-star or G.O.A.T. Truth said, I want nothing to do with the game. But just like Michael Corleone, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

Alas, that’s why I’m here. While you may not care for my perspective, suck it up, buttercup, because I’m gonna write it out and put my name on it for all to see. After all, I know a guy who publishes a paper every week. I also believe those original amendments (ever with the mistake of putting them in ink on paper, which democrats have sworn to do a “work around” on them before said ink dried) were divinely inspired. So, while you might think I’m not a serious person when I write (fair enough, you’re entitled to that) you can (un) rest assured, I take this freedom of the press and speech thing very seriously.

So, to my over-interested lawyer/pastor friend who likes to tell me I could have done my opinion piece in a few paragraphs, I say this: I’m getting to the point. To my other pastor friend who inspired this meandering of thought from me, here it is.

You see, this second pastor and I had a friendly back and forth on Facebook. I mean, where else would we have it? As I recall, his post was about love and prayer for the state of the world, and yet he took pains to state he wasn’t trying to make it a political point. Now, I’m never going to have a debate with a pastor about love – as I’m unarmed in many ways in that shootout – especially with a pastor I admire so much, one who’s even sought me out after some of my rather unloving posts about my human condition, taking time from his busy flock to counsel and pray for me.

But I did post this, “Well Pastor … whether we like it or not, it’s all politics.”

And while my pastor friend had a wonderful, loving response in saying love overcomes all, and politics doesn’t matter when it comes to loving your neighbor – even better, complimenting me in saying he knows I already know that – my brain, as always, just had to take it one step further. So, here it is:

It’s all politics, because that’s how politicians want it. And that’s 99 percent of what’s on your favorite device that gives you access to our cold, cold world. After all, how else are they going to amass power and get rich unless they are fixing all your problems? Fact is, that last thing 99 percent of politicians (I left room for a couple of good ones) want is you or me going to God and loving our neighbor to help us navigate the world. Because then it would be obvious to all they are basically useless.

So, my pastor friend was right about loving and praying for others, and I’m right about how it’s become all about politics. And I’m sure you know those things are as opposite as heaven and hell. But more important, what’s someone to do about it?

First and foremost, listen to my pastor friend. Love God and love your neighbor. And then let’s all work and speak up and vote to make sure 99 percent of our politicians do the same on an individual level while serving the people, not just as a campaign slogan. I know we just don’t see much of it as the world turns today.

But it doesn’t mean we don’t try. We must. Then maybe all that screen time will bring us some peace. And grace. And hope.

In Truth and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com