It's late afternoon on Monday as I'm writing, and tomorrow I get to vote. It's been a long time since I've been so excited and grateful about the opportunity to express my opinions at the polls. I think my excitement is related to the long buildup to this election, the important issues that are being debated, and the challenging news that has dominated the headlines and web pages in recent weeks and months. This is important stuff.
Over the last couple of weeks, in an effort to help my daughter with her homework, I've been re-reading some small sections of The Federalist Papers and The Anti-Federalist Papers, collections of essays and speeches in which the authors debated the positive and negative aspects of the constitution . Make no mistake, they had some passionate differences about how our government should be structured. But as I read, I was struck by how both sides of the debate emphasized the importance of returning the power of government to the people. Both sides in those debates were adamant that the final form of our government had to protect citizens from despotic leaders. Their debates--and it should be noted that they disagreed hotly with one another about the particulars--made me more appreciative that I get to participate in a system in which we the people get to hold government accountable in many ways, including with our votes.
There's a great deal that's wrong with our political system. I certainly don't believe in a 'love it or leave it' mentality. As a Christian, I believe that I am called to exercise righteous critique of the land in which I live. That said, I am almost giddy about the gift that is mine of voting my conscience at the election booth. Regardless of how this turns out, I get to cast my votes in ways that I believe are most consistent with the kingdom of God. When you stop and think about it, in the whole history of the world, it is a very recent development that anyone has gotten to do that.
1 comment:
As a senior citizen, I had the liberty of voting early so I won't be part of the excitement of tomorrow's lines. I must confess though that this was one of the most difficult voting decisions I have ever had the privilege of making. As I prayed for God's direction, I, too, did some research. I finally came to a sense of peace as I felt God's direction and I voted accordingly. The outcome is in God's hands. Romans 13:1 says, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authories, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." He has a plan and a purpose. He is sovereign, Almighty God.
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