Political Capital by David Christenson
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. ~ Proverbs 17:27
I recently had a scheduled meeting with one who had won a state-wide election last November. We were meeting in regard to the hit and run in which I was injured in back in November 2009. In particular the investigation that was involved with that crime incident. I was asked my opinion about it all and I mentioned the negative issues of the investigation and the desire I have to help implement a strategy to help prevent another bungling such as the one I was involved with. I stated that the crime scene wasn’t sterile and clues and evidence could have been lost. In truth, in my case it likely never would have made much difference at the scene but in another it might very well do so.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the Lord has made them both. ~ Proverbs 20:12
We then talked about other issues that were disappointing to me and that was the fact that the suspected car was located at an abandoned farm site four days after the incident and pictures were taken of the car. The farm site is owned by relatives of the car owners and when one of the car owners was questioned about the damage to the car, specifically the smashed windshield, they stated that they had hit a pheasant at 65-70 mph. At that time the two law enforcement guys left saying that wasn’t the car they were looking for.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out. ~ Proverbs 18:15
So the elected official and I were talking of these two issues along with a few more. The dirty crime scene and the willingness to believe what they had been told in an answer to their question. Those things have given me the impetus to write this article because of what the guy told me when we started talking about solutions. He said that since he was elected with 82% of the vote last November he felt he has some “Political capital” to try to change some things in state-wide law enforcement. We talked a lot of newer ways to train our new and younger law enforcement people so that the kind of mistakes I saw in my own case would have a lower probability of happening again. I made the statement that with that political capital gained and with him at his term limiting with that office he now holds, by making positive changes in how things are done in the future can assure the state’s citizens that he is doing his best to make sure our fine state of South Dakota has a lesser chance of having our own “Ferguson” or “Baltimore” rioting and associated issues. I said he has a chance to make a legacy to his political career.
Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— ~ Proverbs 2:2
So what does that have to do with FGGAM you might be yourself and also me. Good point…… This politician I was speaking to has political capital and I am kind of feeling that I might also have something similar to share. It isn’t political but Biblical in nature. With all of the negative things that have happened to me over my life and the pains I have endured, if I can relate to another how I have dealt with them and coped with them, maybe I have some capital of my own that another might find useful.
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. ~ Proverbs 12:15
Each time I have had bad things happen or even been close to death, my faith has grown and gained strength. I have developed a thirst to know more of the Word of God and what it can mean to all of us. I have changed my focus away from myself and toward Jesus. I want people to know that even when bad things happen to us, it is Jesus who is always there for us to lean on and in cases such as my own hit and run incident, for Jesus to carry us through the dark turmoil. I am sure that Jesus was holding me at that time that I needed Him most. It was in God’s greater plan that I have been able to recover as I have. I believe God knew and wanted me to be a voice for Him to share these kinds of things with others. And that maybe what I say or what I write might contain something to help another from keeping an unholy crime scene too close to their hearts. God has granted me the wisdom to listen to the advice He has given me.
Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. ~ Proverbs 19:27
About David Christenson: He is a lifelong resident of South Dakota, grew up on a farm north of Claremont and attended school in Amherst and Britton, graduating from Britton in 1977.
David married Gretchen Tisher in 1984. Gretchen is also a graduate of Britton and teaches math and drama at Britton-Hecla high school. David and Gretchen have two children. Zach is an engineer for Continental Ag in Norfolk, Nebraska and his wife Amanda is a nurse. Margo lives in Denver and works as a Marketing & Outreach coordinator for MyLifeLine.org, a cancer support not-for-profit entity.
David started a cow/calf operation in the 1980s and farmed on the family farm after his high school graduation until December of 1994 when he accepted a sales position at the John Deere store in Britton. David left the John Deere sales position in March of 2006 and became a licensed crop insurance agent in May of 2006. David also started a rental business in 2010 and remained in the cattle business until January of 2012.
David, age 55, has had some extraordinary circumstances in his life. He was run over by a farm tractor before age 6 and had three heart attacks a few months before turning 40. Then he suffered life threatening injuries a few months after turning 50 in a hit and run incident. David was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and skin cancer in 2014.
David started writing his recovery experiences on Facebook in December of 2009. Over the next four years those Facebook notes became what would become chapters in his book, “Why Are You Here?” which was published in December of 2013.
Photo by David Christenson in his lovely state of South Dakota.
