And some of you will disagree with me. That's inevitable and that's okay. Hope we can still "all get along"! LOL
But this comes from my heart of hearts after much prayer, reflection and listening to both the news, people that I know and respect (and a few that I don't!)
I honestly did not know who I was going to vote for until it came right down to the moment of marking the ballot. I know a lot of you assumed I would be voting for McCain because I am a Christian and I share a lot of the same viewpoints as Republicans do. I know a lot of you assumed I would be voting for Obama because I have very liberal roots, an open mind and I share a lot of the same viewpoints as Democrats do.
Truly, Jeff and I cannot afford another 4 years like the last 8. We both voted for Bush twice. And looking back on that now, it was a big mistake. We did not vote our hearts but our wallets and it backfired--bigtime. Jeff works for a company that does a lot of contract work for the military. Republicans tend to like to have a big defense and we figured--hey, this will be good for business. As I'm studying through the book of James in Community Bible study, I'm convicted much about motives. We did not have pure motives. We thought we'd prosper under the Bush administration and while I know one man is not responsible for all the turmoil in the world, when he is the leader of the free world, he must be prepared to act accordingly when things go wrong. In my opinion, he did not. He was just as "hands off" as his father and while some people think that's the way to go...me, not so much. I don't care for the way he handled 9/11 aftermath, the conflict (or lack thereof) in Iraq, the devastation with Hurrican Katrina, the failures of the economy and least of all the energy crises and soaring gas prices.
I resent the implication by so many Republicans that if we don't agree with everything Bush has done, we are looking for a handout or somehow immoral and unChristian. That kind of attitude and lack of compassion is so very contrary to Jesus' teachings that it begs those of us who know differently to want to distance ourselves from the Republican party altogether. Jeff & I work very hard for all that we do NOT have. We aren't looking for a handout. I don't want any of your money. But I DO expect a decent chance at making some for myself to spend and give according to MY convictions. I shouldn't have to foot the bill for things so that the poor can go on living off the government (which is wrong, I concede--every able body should work) or the rest of everyone can "have more money to invest" and MAYBE that will trickle down to help the rest of us. I shouldn't have to put every dime I make right back into the tank of my car just so I can drive to work. And I'm sorry, I know some of you disagree but you cannot tell me that it's pure coincidence that the we had an oil man in office for 8 years while gas prices went through the roof and now that he's about to be on his way out...they're coming back down. Call me ignorant if that makes you feel better about what has been happening but it won't change the fact that something is definitely rotten in the state of Denmark.
All THAT said....I wasn't altogether sure about Obama either. I don't want to see him or anyone else take office and take away from anyone to give to someone else. I just want everyone to pay their fair share and everyone to have a decent shot at trying to make their lives better. Maybe I bought into the media hype a little bit but I confess I questioned whether or not he is who he says he is. God's Word does warn us to be wary of wolves in sheep's clothing. Is he a wolf? I admit, I wondered (still wonder).
I do hold dear to the values that human life should be sacred. I am also against abortion. But I know that since Roe v Wade was passed in 1973, there have been more Republican presidents than Democratic presidents. The GOP has had more opportunities to appoint judges, pass laws, etc. and it hasn't happened. Maybe it's jaded and cynical of me to think this but I think they really don't care about unborn babies either (that is, most, not all!) because they know if they are born, they are likely to have to support them! I think all politicians are full of it when it comes to the abortion issue. Saying you believe something is one thing. When it comes down to actions...nothing much has been done. On the other hand, I also believe with all my heart that passing a law against something doesn't make it obsolete. We have laws against murder and theft. People still kill and steal. If we TRULY want to stop something as horrible as abortion, we need to work on the heart level. We need to share the love of Christ with people, especially women who are hurting and faced with such a crises and make it difficult to even think about making that choice and that includes helping take care of the life beyond the womb, if necessary. We need to get off our holier-than-thou attitudes and stop saying, "she should have made the choice NOT to have sex". Her sin is NO DIFFERENT than the sin you and I commit on a daily basis. It is not God that puts degrees on sin--people do. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. So she sinned. So what? Saying shoulda woulda coulda all day long won't solve the problem at hand.
So how to vote on that issue? It's a wash. And sadly, all morality issues seem to be a wash with politicians. There have been just as many Republicans as Democrats involved in sex and/or other scandals because the simple fact of the matter is that WE ALL SIN AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD and any party that claims to be morally superior to another--that is the party of lies. Beware.
I have always admired John McCain, even before most of you knew who he was. I think he would have made an EXCELLENT president (not so enamoured with Palin though--she struck me as a dingbat!) and I have never been more impressed with him than I was last night watching his concession speech. What a class act! Too bad I can't say the same for some of the people in the crowd. Booing? Didn't their mothers ever teach them manners? No excuse for such horrible behavior! But getting back to McCain--yes, a deep, deep respect I have for him and most of you know what a fan I am of Rudy Guiliani. And Rudy backed him! LOL
I actually have a lot of respect for Obama, too, though. I identify with him. I know what it's like to grow up estranged from your biological father and even though things turned out well for him as well as for me, I know how it feels to grow up feeling not whole and not because of anything you did. And no matter how great things are in your life, how wonderful the people that raised you are, nothing can change the fact that a part of who you are has been altered in some way for some reason. I also know what it feels like to have my faith questioned (and it will probably happen again after I get finished with this blog. So be it. If it makes you feel better about yourself to try and tear someone else down, knock yourself out). It hurts to know that there are people out there that think THEY know your heart and they know what you're about when no one ever knows another's heart except for the Lord. It doesn't matter if it's the saintliest person on the earth or the worst dreg of humanity. While there is something to be said for behavior being a product of faith, it's not an absolute. I have witnessed many a "godly" person do ungodly things and vice versa. My point is, there's just no way to know.
After all that, all I could think to do was pray. "Lord, I want to do what you want me to do. I want to be obedient to You. I want to use my vote to your glory. I already know that whoever You want to place in the highest office of our land will be placed there. Your will will be done and may we take a lesson from David and not raise our hands against Your annointed. If there is to be justice, retribution or whatever needs to happen, YOU will handle it."
Yesterday, God gave me a small gift of having another car pass in front of me with the following bumper sticker, "Don't worry. God is in control."
Yes, He is! Praise the Lord! I took that with me to the polls and I'm holding onto it now. I hope that, if I have offend anyone by speaking what is in my heart and on my mind that you will forgive me. That is not my intention at all. I know not to be afraid for speaking the truth and that is what I've tried to do. I hope that you will also join me in giving President Obama a chance to do what he aspires to do. Don't be discouraged but be encouraged. Show him the respect he is due as our earthly leader and never forget who our REAL leader is.
I watched in wonder all day yesterday as my 10 year-old attempted to grasp what was happening. It did not fail her what a historic moment yesterday was and bless her heart, she WANTED Obama to win despite the fact that most of her friends were for McCain. When I asked her why she wanted Obama to win she simply stated, "because he will be the first African American President." I am not sure why that was important to her but she asked questions all day long--why don't people like him? How come they think that? etc. etc. Oh and it was TRULY a lesson in civics when I was trying to explain the electoral college to her last night! My head still hurts. I'm 38 and it still baffles my mind, can you imagine an air-headed little girl trying to wrap her mind around it! LOL But it was so amazing to see the hope in her eyes and watch her absorb everything that was happening. Words cannot express.
Before going to bed last night, we all prayed for our country, for McCain, for Obama for all of us. Lord, let him be the man he claims to be. Not a savior, not a saint but a servant like the rest of us. Help people to put aside their prejudices, the misconceptions, their negative thoughts and give him a chance. He is going to be under so much more pressure than any president before him that I feel sorry for him. Every little thing he does is going to be scrutinized--I would not want the pressure. But Lord, you allowed him to lead for a reason and whatever it is, we pray that your will be done and whatever comes to pass, you get the glory.
Blessings,
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