I’m writing this before the election, but you are reading it afterward. As I write these words, I don’t know who will be elected or what propositions will pass. But I am aware that the level of rhetoric in this election has become quite strident. In fact, I can’t remember an election which has been as combative. I also can’t remember an election in which so many people have been unhappy with both the main candidates for President. With places like Syria reminding us of the dis-ease in our world, security and foreign policy have rightfully been on our minds. With the economy just struggling to recover and congress gridlocked, many of us are fearful about our personal financial situation. As I listen to conversations, I hear a lot of fear and anxiety. So, remembering that I am writing this before the elections, I want to encourage you to remember two things.
First, when the elections are over in America, it is time to put away the partisan rhetoric and get to work. While we will still have some very real differences, we will also be facing some very real problems which require us to work together. You and/or I may not be happy with all the folks who get elected – in fact, I’m sure some us will not be happy – but they will be our duly elected officials. We need to be in prayer for God’s wisdom and guidance for them. A divided nation is both weak and ineffective. Somehow, we need to recover the sense of the unity and purpose that strengthens our nation.
Second, we need to remember that whomever we elect and whatever the economy does, we are still followers of Jesus Christ. We still trust that God is, ultimately, in charge and doing amazing things in this world. No elected official can guarantee our salvation or guide the future with greater wisdom. We will continue to place our trust in God and pray that those we elect will listen to His voice in all their decisions. And, no matter how anxious life may become, we will continue to entrust our future into God’s hands.
Soon, we will be entering the season of Advent. We’ll begin preparing for the celebration of the birth of Christ and looking forward to His return. As we do so, let us act in confidence that God still holds our future, that Jesus still calls us to be the Body of Christ, and that the Holy Spirit is still empowers us to be God’s witness to a world longing to encounter the Word made flesh.
Grace and Peace,
Tom
