Post-Election Day, 2020

This post orginially appeared on my personal Facebook page on Nov. 3, 2020 - Election Day. I thought I would share it here, too. Here’s an image I like that spurred me on to write it.

I normally try to keep politics off FB. Not today. It’s too important. And five hours before the polls close, I hope you’ve already voted. I’m posting this link (image: found here) because it fits where I’m at today. Maybe I have too much time right now. Maybe you just don’t care.

Cocooning into our own echo chamber isn’t really healthy. Disagreement permeates here and in real life. On both inconsequential topics and very consequential ones. I think a lack of engagement with people who have differing views than us has led to such divisiveness.

Have we lost our will to listen? Or is it just because we would rather see our agenda implemented and we get angry when it isn’t?

I have friends/family here (on FB) who support Trump. I refuse to de-friend them or mute them, or whatever because of it. I like them as people. And some have helped me tremendously in various ways.

Here’s where I fall. If you didn’t already know, I’m what most would call an evangelical Christian. Yes, one of *those*. And as one who follows Jesus, I must say that Trump is NOT a Christian. Though he panders to them.

And because I will, on occasion, forsake my own playlists and listen to Christian radio in the car, I’ve heard some Christian talk radio hosts admit to as much. But then they say, “He cares about what Christians care about.”

I don’t agree.

45 cares about one person and one person only. No one else. And it ain’t you and it ain’t me.

My church leadership encourages civic participation. It is our duty as Christians to be involved in civic/government issues. Earnestly pray about it. Let the Holy Spirit guide you. And go vote. I’ve been exhorted to vote “kingdom values.” I know some will roll your eyes at that. But I will vote kingdom values. When I compare the two candidates, I ask myself, “Which one more resembles Christ?” In their word, in their action, in their demeanor. In their use of Twitter (sorry, couldn’t resist that).

That leaves only one.

Now, I’m not down with everything about Joe. But this country needs healing - both physical and mental, on many fronts. We need more civility. We need more respect. We need more face-to-face conversations over coffee or at the kitchen table. If so, maybe there’d be fewer posts like this one.

And that’s where I am at.

Goodnight.