If you are anything like me your
head is swimming after this historic election cycle that set new highs and lows
of just about every kind. I’ll be making no statement on who I think should
have “won” but I would like to make some observations and applications.
The vote that finally and
mercifully came 595 days after the marathon started painted a very distinct
picture of America. The cities were nearly all blue and nearly everything else
was red. A friend of mine noted the stark contrast and asked the question “Why
are rural Americans more conservative than urban ones?” It’s an interesting question.
I’m not going to answer it. It is enough for the purpose of my observations to
recognize that the divide between conservative America (Republicans) and
liberal America (Democrats) is an urban/rural divide.
The media and tradition convinced
everyone there were only two options. I applaud the 4 million + voters who knew
better and had the courage to vote otherwise.
This reality is significant especially
if you are a Christian and I’ll show you why. Jesus was a man. He lived in the
real world surrounded by culture and politics. His own culture was deeply
divided between the conservatives (Pharisees) and liberals (Sadducees). The
Sadducees tended to be more urban and largely controlled the political
leadership of Judah. The Pharisees were more rural and starkly conservative.
The two groups hated each other. They couldn’t have been more opposed to each
other. Social pressures, culture, etc… demanded you identify as one or the
other. However there were other smaller groups, those who refused to be one or
the other. Whether I agree with those who stand apart from the either/or
mainstream I respect their independent spirit and willingness to think for
themselves.
Here is the rub. In America most
Christians think Jesus is Republican. In reality the conservatives were as zealous
if not more zealous to kill Jesus than the liberals were. In the end they conspired
together to try and snuff Him out. In the end for all the opposition and hatred
between the right and left, they became one to dispose of Jesus.
What has been will be again,
there is nothing new under the sun… (Eccl. 1:9)
Today I went to my children’s
school for the Remembrance Day service. My son’s grade made a presentation that
literally reduced me to tears. While a slide show of images from all over the
world played in the background to the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” each
student held up a poster with a phrase on it. Each phrase was their
contribution to what they would aspire to do to maintain peace on earth.
I looked at those grand ideals
which are really just basic human decency and I thought “How many of those
values were modeled in the 595 day election campaign? How many of them will be
modeled in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead by the new president elect?
If I have learned anything from
both being a child and observing children grow up, it is that we learn from
what people do, not what they say. Did you know American men stopped wearing
fedoras because JFK didn’t wear one and that Teddy Bears became popular because
of Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt?
Yesterday a young woman was
exposed to the rants of a young man making fun of all the whining women who
didn’t vote for the current president elect. He even suggested that maybe they
needed to be grabbed by the “v@&!^a”. Who modeled that? Who gave him
permission to behave in such a brash and rude way?
Truth is above politics. It’s
above the clash between the right and left. It is higher, better, outside, and
beyond the noise. Truth is a lonely place. It is a place where a person loves
the right and the left but is usually hated by both. It’s where Jesus walked. I
encourage you, implore you, beg you to walk with Him in that sacred space that
values all people and seeks healing and understanding over being right and
pushing an agenda. I cried because my son stood there with his class with a
simple message, a beautiful message, a message that finds no space in the news
cycle and is less and less in the hearts of the men and women who are held up
as our leaders. What kind of future will they face? What world has my son
inherited?
Make no mistake, I will pray for
the success and growth of every leader. I will obey in every way I can. I’m
just asking you to seek a better mentor. Look up. Jesus is a role model like no
other. Follow Him.
***If you weren't able to read all the posters here is what they said left to right:
Be unbiased
Say kind words
Be content
Accept others
Be loving
Have a happy heart
Be understanding
Include people
Be kind
Love
Be happy for others
Try try try again
Be honest
Be supportive
Have a flexible mindset
