Moving Forward with Faith

On many issues in this election, Christian voters took different positions. In a political climate often filled with animosity, we are both winners and losers. Yet the outcome of this election should not prevent us from coming together along our shared values in support of our president and our leaders.

This past week, I have found myself overwhelmed with emotion. The election of Senator Obama to the presidency can only be understood as a historic turning point for our nation.

Today in Sunday school, I had the opportunity to sit down with a group of teenagers to talk about the election and our faith. In the back corner of our church, we sat informally on blue striped couches and reflected on the week. The younger students, still in middle school, were happy about Senator Obama’s election, but seemed unaware of its significance. The older students were excited to see a change in our country’s leadership and an end to the Bush era.

While we spent a good amount of time talking about the presidential election, we also discussed California Proposition 8. The older students in the class were particularly disappointed in the new ban on gay-marriage in California. They feel that it is unfair and unjust.

In a world of politics with winners and losers, I told my students to remember how blessed we are to be part of a democratic process where we can express our values. As my boyfriend often quotes, "The arc of the universe is wide, but it bends toward justice."

On many issues in this election, Christian voters took different positions. In a political climate often filled with animosity, we are both winners and losers. Yet the outcome of this election should not prevent us from coming together along our shared values in support of our president and our leaders. In particular as Christian Democrats, we can play an important role in reaching across the aisle. I pray that we can move beyond our wins and losses to foster as sense of hope and unity to move our nation forward.