A Post-election Reflection

I've been wanting to write this for a couple of days, but have not had the chance.  I wanted to give my thoughts on the election that the United State just held, the results, and general meanderings.

However, I want to start with a caveat:  I don't mind discussion about this, as long as it is respectful.  It is my blog and I reserve the right to remove your posts (not in a fit of censorship) if you do not treat others with respect.  We are all friends here and while these are my thoughts and you may not share them, please be nice.

I, like many others, sat on my couch Tuesday evening listening to the results come in.  I was full of hope that "my guy" (Romney) was going to pull off a win and start steering this country back in the direction it needs to go.  The direction our forefathers wanted it to go.  A God centered nation, that was fiscally responsible, but also cognizant of the rights and needs of the citizens (both born and unborn) of this great nation.

I did my homework (although, truthfully, there wasn't much to do for the Presidential election -- our current President could not be veering farther from my ideals if he tried).  But I read, as I always do, about plans, and ideas that each candidate brought forth.  I like to consider myself an Independent voter -- I don't vote straight party lines, but rather vote based upon the candidate who best represents my ideals.  I was raised a Democrat -- my father was a farmer and a union worker, so we didn't have much choice -- but have honestly found over the years that the Democrats don't represent my values any longer.  My father, in his later years, had voted Republican himself due to the changes within the party.

But I digress.  I prepared myself.  I tried to watch many newschannels to get a well-rounded view of both candidates -- which I quickly found was impossible.  I remember a time when the news channels gave the news -- now what we see is a skewed view of the news -- showing their bias toward their particular side.  It was maddening at times -- I'm sure from both sides, but especially from my point of view -- MAJOR stories were not released or even discussed (Bhengazi comes to mind).  I hope (probably in vain) that there are some changes in the way stations handle the news in the coming years to balance the storytelling a bit.

I even attended a rally in Mitt's honor -- at the Shelby County Fairgrounds -- home of many great memories for me -- and now one more.  There were so many people there that I could not even get close -- which was ok with me because I felt it was a strong showing and a great "problem" to have!

So, in the weeks leading to the election, I saw many great things -- I saw three Presidential debates, in which one candidate looked very presidential and had positive answers to many of the questions -- and our current sitting President relying on the Press to haul him out again because he wasn't used to speaking for himself.  

I saw a Vice Presidential debate that certainly told me which candidate I wanted to run the country in case the President couldn't.  There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted Paul Ryan to be the back-up.

I voted on Tuesday.  I waited until after work, because Will really wanted to go along.  And I wanted him to have the experience.  He asked lots of questions while I was voting -- first and foremost, he asked (very loudly) where I was going to vote for Mitt!  I heard a few chuckles around us, and showed him, then explained to him that we don't announce who we are voting for -- it's frowned upon.

As we watched the returns Tuesday night -- I had this sinking feeling early on.  I don't know why -- I hadn't heard any exit polls -- but I just didn't have a good feeling.  And, apparently, I was right.  The further the night went on, the sicker to my stomach I felt.  What is America thinking? is all that went through my mind.  We have a failing economy, a horrendous & scary proposed healthcare system that does not protect life (and, as I found out today -- also does not cover infertility treatments -- so it will pay to destroy life but not to help create it -- which begs to ask why it doesn't just support adoption?)....and, most scary to me, a President who does not appear to value God and family.

I am fearful.  I am scared for our future as a county.  I am scared for my children's future.  I am scared for Jim and I.

So I went to bed.  And I prayed.  And I prayed.  And I prayed.  All the while thinking and wondering what I could do.  How could we handle this?

And, as always, He came through.  I have been hearing the word "time" for quite some time now -- and heard it again loud and clear Tuesday night and again Wednesday morning.  

It wasn't time.  We need to wait.  All will be revealed in His time, not ours (totally the hardest thing for me!). He has a plan and is waiting to enact it.  Eventually, it will all make sense (I hope so!).  

I found it interesting that one of Wednesday's readings was:

1 Phil 2:12-18

My beloved, obedient as you have always been,

not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,

work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

For God is the one who, for his good purpose,

works in you both to desire and to work.

Do everything without grumbling or questioning,

that you may be blameless and innocent,

children of God without blemish

in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,

among whom you shine like lights in the world,

as you hold on to the word of life,

so that my boast for the day of Christ may be

that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

But, even if I am poured out as a libation

upon the sacrificial service of your faith,

I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

He does ultimately have a plan.  He's telling us that!  We just need to wait.  And pray.  We need to pray for President Obama and the entire administration that they lead this country in a direction that will ultimately enhance our lives (everyone's).  We need to ask God to give him the grace to do his job and work with the Senators and Representatives to come up with some resolutions.  We need to ask God to help him realize his mistakes when it comes to religious freedoms.

But I'm impatient.  Did you know that?  And, it's very hard to pray for someone that you rarely agree with.  Maybe that's His point?

I leave you with these parting words:

I'm comforted to know that things didn't look so good when Christ was hanging on the cross. (from Brittany Brown, daughter of my friend, Kimi) 

Great point, Brittany.