I hope when my faith and politics collide, my faith always wins...

This is the third time I've had the opportunity to vote for president in my life.  It is also the first time that I have chosen to not do so.  I've had a couple of conversations already where that position has been scorned and even mocked a little, and I completely respect that opinion.  In our culture, not voting is seen as an affront to the freedoms in which we're taught to cherish, that we were taught to respect because of the sacrifices made to obtain them.  To those people, I respect that point of view with all of my heart.  And it's because I take voting so seriously that I did not vote for a president in this election.

I did not find confidence in either man who were the major candidates for the office.  I have felt that way since the very beginning of the general campaign.  Where people have seen blind optimism, I've seen the same words recycled from similar thinking men in similar situations, only in different times and a different culture.  Where people have cheered on a candidate who has been portrayed as a hero and a patriot, I've seen barely a small deviation from the mean of politics as usual in what has admittedly still been a very short life.

I think that we tend to forget that history is cyclical and we have very short attention spans.  We forget that this isn't the worst era in history.  We forget the thoughts we used to have that made us happy, because we're so convinced that the future is doomed.  Every political party has started wars.  Every party has ended wars.  Every party has claimed to have God on their side.  Every party has believed that their cause was just.  In the end, we all seem to be like Peter, stuck on that water, and wondering how we'll get to our Savior.

As a Christian, my heart has broken for those of you who see me through the lens of those who put the flag and their faith together to justify their words to you.  I've been grieved throughout this election to see how many followers of Christ have groaned and mourned what this nation would be like if our leadership changed dramatically.  I've been afraid of the fanfare that people have had for change, and how one man can seemingly be the answer to so many problems that have so many complicated answers.  Those are the things that have stirred my heart.  Not my desire for this leader or that leader.  But that those that put their faith in Jesus would do so even when the world shifts and changes.  The world changed for Peter (he's the easy example here, sorry).  Suddenly, he could walk on water.  But once he took his eyes off of Christ, he was just like any other man, flailing and drowning without hope.

I did not vote for a president, because I was not drawn to do so.  I think even more than before, we have the opportunity to love a little better, give a little more and walk a little longer with friends or even strangers.  The man at the top doesn't matter nearly as much as what we do for those on the very bottom. That's where the church should be.  Not trying to create political change, but showing people real love.  You can legislate all the rules you want, you can elect the most like-minded person you can, but nothing will reach the people that are hurting than with real, passionate love.  That's my hopeful prayer for all of us.

I feel squeamish on this soapbox.  I think I better step off of it.