Well, the U.S. election season is here. I know this because Facebook has become flooded with a lot of ultimatums and extreme blanket statements. There was a time when I engaged in differing opinions on the web (of which there are many), but these days I find myself with no desire to. The jury's out on whether this is due to a sense of self-preservation, a lack of hope of change or an increase in wisdom (I'm hoping it's the latter). There is one confession that I'd like to make, though, with somber remorse:
I voted for Barack Obama.
I did. I was living on WIC vouchers in an affordable housing complex in Arlington, Texas, at the time. My children received their immunizations through Medicaid. I donated 6 months of breast milk samples to research for $200. And I still believed that we, as individuals, were responsible for the mess that our nation was in and that we, as collective individuals, had the potential to make it a better place. "Yes! We Can!" McCain seemed like the typical politician who knew exactly who to blame for all the world's woes and promised a bowl full of cherries if he was elected. But Obama seemed to acknowledge the immense task of rebuilding the morale of a disillusioned nation, warning that change would be hard and not be instantaneous, but that yes, we can. And he had spent a lot of time working to better the lives of people like me, who were under the thumb of financial strain with few options. He seemed promising.
Listening to Michelle Obama's recent speech at the Democratic Convention (I hate conventions, don't you? Frenzied mobs, reminding us why Rome burned), the reason I had voted for Obama came flooding back to me: I like him. I like the way he's lived his life. Raised with the help of his grandparents - whom he honoured, early morning study sessions before school, turning down well paid positions to work with poorer neighbourhoods, husband to one woman, father to only her children, a man with romantic dreams of a hard working, blue collar nation...
It's such a shame, too, because the Obama's are SUCH a nice family. I could see myself laughing, enjoying a freezie with them on the sidewalk on a hot day. My sentiments remind me of Dave who, after relocating to Texas, was so pleased to find anyone to converse with. "I met our neighbour today," he'd say. "SUCH a nice guy." Insert anyone in that sentence - bank rep, store owner, customer, co-worker, church-goer. Dave was unaware that he was so starved for friendship, any interaction he had the privilege of experiencing overwhelmed him with a gratefulness for the human spirit, the image of God, that each one of us inherently bears.
But as I sat listening to Michelle's speech, that familiar sadness crept into my chest. That realization and heaviness that accompanies an imminent parting of ways. Although they mean well, although they're the lovely family that I'm sure they are, I cannot stand with them in their declarations and their vision for the nation. They are wrong. No amount of my liking them (and I do like them) will change this very clear and unavoidable truth.
"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." Galatians 6:7
Women licensed to kill without repercussion and those oppressed with sexual perversion encouraged to throw off self-restraint do not a perfect world make. Hand outs and "fairness" have never forged admirable characters in their recipients. Nor do they build a healthy society. We have not "evolved" into some advanced way of thinking; instead, we have ignored the very simple, obvious laws of nature. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools..." Romans 1:22 (if you haven't read the whole chapter, I encourage you to)
Not only lacking repentance for our sins, we ignore them and rename them "choices" or, worse yet, attribute our degradation to God, assuming no responsibility for our actions. And the disheartening bit is that society won't recognize this fact until it's already suffering the effects from these decisions, if it does at all. The world is, after all, under the influence of an enemy. (1 John 5:19)
But God is so constant in His forbearance and grace. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." BUT, "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:9-10
Interesting that the commands of God are life - they breathe life, they protect us from unnecessary suffering and ruin. And they are so often met with such hostility from those they are designed to heal and restore. Such a shame. We should reconsider. "Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7
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