Things I Think…
1. It’s Election Eve and any minute now the house across the street will unfurl a massive Trump banner. The house next to it already has a Trump sign the size of some houses. Up and down my street there are more of the same of different sizes and slogans.
I’m surrounded.
By neighbors.
While I couldn’t disagree more with their enthusiasm for Trump, I refuse to identify them by their choice.
I choose to identify them biblically.
They are my neighbors.
I am commanded to love my neighbors…period.
2. While I believe that Trump is an evil man, I sin if I believe that all who support him are evil. Neighbor love demands I hear them charitably and desire the best for them…real life in general and the Christian life in particular bear no resemblance to our corrupted social discourse…
3. I confess that I often am fearful of what this election could bring…I hear our Lord saying “do not fear”…not as a commandment or rebuke, but as a comfort…He is with us. That will be sufficient to face whatever comes upon us…
4. The consistent destruction of trust in our institutions will have consequences unimaginable this morning…and we may be facing those consequences shortly. I am preparing my heart to have peace and to speak peace if the worst of my fears come to pass…
5. When the kingdom of God manifests in fuller measure, it often takes down earthly kingdoms in its incursion…destruction comes before re-creation…we may have to learn how to rejoice in the rubble..
6. Voting is not a “Christian responsibility”…it is a secular right. Christian responsibilities are to be baptized, love, and pray…I would appreciate it if we stopped conflating the sacred with the profane…
7. Part of my daily prayer time is devoted to those whose churches and families have been torn asunder by politics…if you have chosen to separate in hostility over such, you are neglecting your real Christian responsibilities…
8. Nothing I have written today has come easily…I am emotional, profane, and prone to fight when feeling threatened. I have to constantly choose my identity and choose to let Christ name me…I struggle with this…
9. Aging is the most difficult task I’ve ever undertaken…pursuing holiness is a close second…
10. Voting doesn’t make you “salt and light”…loving your neighbor makes you “salt and light”…if your politics make you hate your neighbor…you have lost your savor and walk in darkness…
The house across the street has a Harris sign but I’m still going to bake him Christmas cookies.
We voted for Trump over here, by the way. If anyone remembers, back when he ran in 2016 I hated Trump as much as Michael (and most of you) but I’ve had a change of heart.
In those days, I was tight with a group of people in my horticulture group at the local community college. They were a very lovely group of people of all ages and they were all extremely liberal. I admit I was overly influenced by these folks. I look back on the things I said here on the PhxP at that time and it is pretty cringe-worthy to me now.
So we voted for Trump. I think I can say that while many people want a female president- and here’s their big chance= Ms. Harris is probably not the first female president they were hoping for. But she’s a woman, she is a person of color, and she’s not Trump. Everyone must follow their conscience.
I don’t have much more to say on this topic. Whoever wins, it’s who we deserve and Christ is King.
Xenia,
Those neighbors across the street from me came over here when I took my last ambulance ride…they wanted to share their concern, though I don’t know them.
I choose to remember that and ignore the lawn decorations…
We’re not putting up any signs because we love our neighbors and we want them to love us so what’s the point? Do signs make any difference? My most conservative friend and neighbor isn’t voting for Trump because she believes in a bizarre, even for her, conspiracy theory she saw on YT. Hey, this is California. It doesn’t matter. Most of my other neighbors belong to ethnic groups that have a traditional voting pattern. They are wanting solidarity with their people and I can get behind that, even though I think it’s hurting them in the long run. We have a new neighbor who’s a Pentecostal white guy. He seems Trumpish.
I am so ready for the end of political signs, commercials, phone calls, texts, etc. I swear 75% of the commercials during yesterday’s Eagles game were political commercials. Being in a highly contested and highly desired swing state of Pennsylvania (and living on the edge of the city by bordering “swing counties”) it has been wholly insufferable. Even Trump’s McDonald’s stunt took place five miles from where I live, in a McDonald’s I have eaten in several times and riled up even more division and consternation in the community as both his supporters and detractors arrived at the event and yelled and screamed at each other, while causing unexpected traffic jams for several of my friends when they left the church service that morning.
But I also fear what will play out next. I have to keep reminding myself to keep my eyes on the Kingdom.
Kevin,
I wholeheartedly agree.
The text messages bring out the worst in me…
If MLD were still here he would remind us that the year 1968 was much worse than what is happening in America today. The VN war, assassinations, riots, domestic terrorists…
Xenia,
The difference being we had candidates capable of reasonable leadership in both parties in 1968.
I fear the next two years will make us long for the summer of ’68 in comparison…
I think that’s probably true. I wasn’t alive, and social media exacerbates everything, so this feels like the worst time in my 50 years.
I wish we could get back to electing good, honest, decent people, but I’m afraid those days are over. This character is what the masses want.
I try not to know how people are voting, because it is very hard for me not to think less of them.
I was responding to the same comment Michael was responding too. He got in before me.
Why do people advertise who they are voting for? I’ve never understood the lawn sign thing. And the signs in general are everywhere. Every freeway offramp is loaded with 15-20 different signs. All it does is create an eyesore.
I wouldn’t dare put out a lawn sign in the state I live in…just inviting theft or vandalism. Sorry, but it is a high risk. No one’s business who I vote for. I was exposed to sign theft/vandalism as a kid when my parents had me and other kids in the neighborhood out canvassing for Mayor, who lived several houses down from where I grew up.
I have kept civil for the most part with many friends who I don’t see eye-to-eye on politically because I believe there is a greater bond between us. Yes, I at times think they are not thinking things through, but they probably see me the same way.
Most of my neighbors are Vietnamese immigrants, and many of them are not citizens so they don’t vote. I do have two neighbors with Trump signs (one of whom has run out of space for all the different American flags he flies with a spotlight on the largest which is on a flagpole in a mobile home park), but I haven’t yet seen one for Harris. I voted my conscience three weeks ago (it wasn’t for Trump), and I am praying and trusting that God will sort it out. I’ll still have kids to teach on Wednesday. If people become violent, I trust that both our legal and police systems will be able to sort it out. if not, then some of the things I learned in Colombia may be helpful (like, stay home when things get violent until it blows over). It’s really sad to even need to have such thoughts…
One of the big concerns I have about the Trump followers is his “deification” as he appears to becoming more and more unhinged. Who threatens a famous former politician with a violent death in a nationally televised speech? Who threatens he should never have left the Whitehouse? Who threatens that it would be good to leave “liberal” reporters in the line of gunfire? All of this has been in just the past 72 hours. I don’t want someone with that kind of the mentality running our government, or any government.
All those mailers and texts and ads, but so little clarity. One of the candidates in my area is a T, but local news never mentioned it in all their articles and “deep-dives” into the candidates. All the ads picture him as a dowdy, middle-aged woman in a dress, pearl necklace, and hairdo like your conservative aunt might wear. The only paper that was honest about him was the LA Times because they aren’t local and they were applauding the fact that if “she” won, she would be the first T state senator in California. I really don’t care about a politician’s intimate life, but there is a level of deception in play here. I’m tired of all this campaign deceit and hyperbole; look forward to Wednesday.
As far as all the campaign garbage goes, I look forward to Wednesday. On the other hand, if Trump loses, Wednesday could bring the beginning of an insurrection much worse and more wide-spread than 2020. That scares the crap out of me.
Piney–“All it does is create an eyesore.” Very true. But, if we gathered one from each candidate and issue then created a time capsule, we might help a future generation understand how forgetable each critical election really is. 🙂
I voted. It hasn’t relieved my headache.
The big benefit for me as this election cycle ends is that I’m more aware of how my attention has been drawn to matters of the temporal and from matters of the Kingdom of God. Regardless of the outcome, I will need the peace of God, the grace & mercy of God, the love of God, etc. in greater measure.
“Why do people advertise who they are voting for?”
The purpose is virtue signaling. People want to advertise their virtue. They also want to communicate their indignation towards those who believe differently. They want everyone to know what tribe they belong to and what side of history they are on.
Good to see you, fil.
“Why do people advertise who they are voting for?”
Same reason I wear Vikings gear every day…that’s my team.
Fil, thanks for chiming in. And I agree with you. Every bit. I just wish the process was more streamlined and less…”littery.” 😀
Michael, your Vikings are worthy of cheering this year!
PH,
Thanks…if they start to suck, I’ve got hockey gear ready…
Just got off a short FB messenger exchange with a good Christian friend. I had sent him a message about the latest (and certainly not last) election interference claim. He didnt’ believe me because the source of the claim of it being false was from a source he doesn ‘t trust. I was shaking as we sent a few messages back and forth, all of which were not toxic, and then I changed the subject to something we have been concerned about as brothers in Christ for a while now. We ended the chat peacefully, but I am still upset and kind of trembling about the stuff he buys into.
So, basically, I HATE politics. I don’t know why I react that way, but as I know myself and how I react, I, on purpose, keep politics off my Facebook page. It’s not worth the stress on my emotions and body and it’s not worth the fights that accompany political discussions. It’s not for me.
That doesn’t mean that I don’t have strong opinions. It means that I don’t want to waste my time and energy in useless arguments and trying to convince someone to see something differently.
I wish more Christian leaders would understand the truth of what Michael says about #6
O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Lord, keep this nation under your care.
To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.
To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.
To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served. Give grace to your servants, O Lord.
And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name.
For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen.
The people have spoken may God be praised!
Everyone (especially the Trump voters),
Now that Trump has won, at least the Harris and her supporters will not claim fraud and try a coup on Jan 6th. UNLIKE the what Trump encouraged and his supporters tried last time. Something for you to think about.