A deep breath\u2026this is a non-partisan post, I promise. In fact,\u00a0I\u2019ve tried to\u00a0focus all my posts\u00a0around specific issues and social concerns; not about people, parties or politics. But today, especially, is a day to try and get past party lines and talk about what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n
To that end, here\u2019s what we\u2019ve (all, hopefully) learned:<\/p>\n
-Hating on the gays doesn\u2019t buy votes anymore. Let\u2019s move on and talk about something else next time.<\/p>\n
-There are many women\u2019s issues in politics, but using the language of \u2018war on women\u2019 is a little dramatic, and it doesn\u2019t really sell, either.<\/p>\n
-That in mind\u2013old white dudes should not talk about rape. Ever. Or contraception.<\/p>\n
-It does not pay to politicize the muppets. Both parties tried it, to the tune of an epic Jim Henson smack-down on both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n
-We are all tired of the hate speech, the nasty ads, the apocolyptic posturing, and leaders whose every move is geared toward the next election cycle, and not the everyday lives of regular people. Get it together, folks. We are waiting.<\/p>\n
-There is no such thing as \u2018the Christian vote\u2019 anymore. People who follow Jesus vote on both sides of the aisle now, based on diverse understandings of faith-based \u2018values.\u2019 Let\u2019s stop letting politicians\u2013and the media\u2013put us all into such tiny boxes. And let\u2019s all stop claiming that God is on our side. It makes us look ignorant and arrogant, and it does nothing for the public image of Christianity when we spend so much energy fighting amongst ourselves. (I am a professional PR rep for Jesus, so this concerns me.)<\/p>\n
-And, speaking of God\u2026may God forgive us for the astounding piles of money gone down the tubes in this election cycle. Let\u2019s next time press our leaders to spend more time addressing issues in public forums, and much, much less money making commercials, printing signs, and digging up dirt. We can\u2019t really talk about stewardship and economics until we stop this madness.<\/p>\n
All this in mind\u2026if we are happy this morning, let\u2019s not be obnoxious about it. And if we are anxious or angry this morning, let\u2019s not keep hollering and name calling and threatening to move to Greece. Let\u2019s all acknowledge that we\u2019ve got some accountability in the brokenness of things, and that we\u2019ve also got some power to move the heck on and start piecing it back together.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, let\u2019s remember that the presidency is larger than any one person\u2013however you feel about that one person at the moment. Even if you think he\u2019s the best thing ever, he must play well with others. And even if you think he\u2019s the end of the world as we know it, others must work well with him. This is the meaning of democracy. If we are truly Americans with American values, we celebrate the conversations this vote will inspire, and we support ALL of our elected officials\u2013even those for whom we did not vote\u2013in their efforts toward our common good.<\/p>\n
Challenge yourself today: think of someone in leadership who you were REALLY hoping would not be (i\u2019ve got mine). And stop for a minute, and pray for that person. Withholding judgement against them, or against their supporters; without secretly hoping they will crash and burn in the first quarter; without wishing you\u2019d posted just ONE MORE THING on facebook that would result in their political demise. Find the discipline to pray for their vision, their health and safety, for their family, and for their effectiveness in office. Then let it go, and trust that the American dream\u2013and possibly, even God\u2013is much bigger than all this. Let\u2019s commit to finding a way forward together, and celebrate the fact that we have our shallow, consumer-driven, holiday-explosion\u00a0commercials back on cable tv.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile\u2026now that the election is over, what in the world am i going to blog about?? Taking suggestions\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A deep breath\u2026this is a non-partisan post, I promise. In fact,\u00a0I\u2019ve tried to\u00a0focus all my posts\u00a0around specific issues and social concerns; not about people, parties or politics. But today, especially, is a day to try and get past party lines and talk about what\u2019s next. To that end, here\u2019s what we\u2019ve (all, hopefully) learned: -Hating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1154,"featured_media":1707,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,5],"tags":[299,781,771,9],"class_list":["post-1698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-being-a-person","category-faith-and-community","tag-campaign","tag-election-day","tag-faith-and-politics","tag-progressive-christianity"],"yoast_head":"\n