Happy the-political-ads-are-stopping-soon-Saturday, friends!
Or at least pausing for a few months.
Yes, we are just 3 days away from Election Day!
To be honest, I’m more excited about the pause in tv ads, mailers, and text messages than I am about the outcome.
Not that I don’t care about the outcome. Quite the contrary!
I voted because I care about the outcome and I take seriously the privilege of voting granted to citizens of our country.
I have some strong feelings about how I hope things go on Tuesday, but if anyone outside my inner circle knows what those feelings are, I’m doing it wrong.
That’s not a judgement on anyone else’s approach. It’s my understanding of my own calling.
Here’s what I know about what next Wednesday (the day after Election Day) will be like:
Some people will be initially ecstatic. They will, of course, discover in the months ahead that an election did not fix everything.
Some people will be devastated. They will, of course, discover in the months ahead that the earth did not spin off its axis.
I’m not saying that the outcome will not bring consequences. It will.
But the consequence about which I’m most concerned is not what will happen to us. It’s what we have already become.
I fear that we have become people who view the world—and our faith—through the lens of our partisan political differences, rather than viewing our political processes through the lens of Jesus.
Here’s something else I know:
Jesus is not up for election. His term as King of kings and Lord of lords has no limit.
My hymn text today reminds me of that truth AND that my response should be worship.
So I’m gonna do just that regardless of what happens Tuesday.
Here’s something else I know:
The life we’ve been gifted and called to as followers of Jesus—eternity’s life—will not change based on what happens Tuesday.
The “eternal life” Jesus promised does not begin when we die. It begins when we place our trust in Jesus.
The “good news” that we carry is not the promise of “heaven” after death. It is the promise of life IN Jesus now AND forever.
That means the message I carry when I have opportunity to preach and sing in different churches around the panhandle remains unchanged by what happens Tuesday.
That means the message our group of singers will carry to Slovenia in a month remains unchanged by what happens Tuesday. (If you’d like to join my prayer partner team, send me a private message).
Here’s something else I know:
Good BBQ will still be expensive and I’ll still splurge on it, just like I did Thursday when my favorite bbq truck in the panhandle had their grand opening of their brick and mortar restaurant.
I waited in line for an hour to get it. In that line were people who probably voted like I did, some who voted completely opposite, some who didn’t vote, and some who couldn’t vote.
And I saw nothing but smiles and heard nothing but laughter and casual conversation. No one complained about the wait or the cost.
Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get together around other things?
Wouldn’t it be cool if we were able to look around us and see nothing but neighbors to love because Jesus first loved us?
That’s not on the ballot, but we can choose it.
Be amazing today, my friend.
