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Election Day, Facebook, Kingdom of God, light in a weary world, Perspective, Pew Research Center, Politics, reflections
In a culture awash in the rhetoric of revolution and change, for many of you the saturation point occurred about five months ago and ever since you’ve been drowning in the sea of stumping candidates and muddied waters. Indeed the basic goal of this blog- looking for light in a weary world- becomes difficult as Sarcasm and Cynicism associated with the politics of the presidency threaten to snuff out light in the political arena.
On Election Day I have no desire to fan the flames of incensed political rhetoric nor try to convince you to vote a certain way. Conversely, I simply want to engage your mind for a few hundred words and offer a few reflections about the world of politics and the process by which we get swallowed by the sea of blue and red:
1. For some reason during a presidential season the collective muzzles come off and the spouting goes on. Normally reserved folks suddenly make like stock traders on the Wall Street floor, shouting and advocating for their particular party. The reticent folks grab the megaphone and shout their views. It’s led to a phenomenon of unfriending on Facebook. A Pew Internet and American Life Project found that 18% of people have blocked or unfriended someone on Facebook or other social networking sites because of their vehement political postings. Somehow the political world especially emboldens folks.
2. One reason for that is our deep-seated desire to identify with a cause. Buried inside us is a raging yearning to identify with something greater than us. This explains the cult-like following of sports fans or the repeated donning of college apparel, even decades after “Pomp and Circumstance” has faded from earshot. We like a good cause that resonates with us, and politics is the perfect arena, especially because during election season everyone is so invested. By declaring our allegiance to one side of the debate we nurture that internal drive to belong.
3. Maturity is being able to take a long look down the fence-line
and see the verdant green on both sides as well as the unsightly patches of brown.
For some reason politics infuse a hideous myopia on our culture. Our vision narrows, and we paint our lives strictly in red or blue, casting the other hue as evil and likely to bring about the Apocalypse. Even if you’re so staunchly entrenched that you’ve been riding a donkey to work the last month, a healthy, mature perspective means you’re able to see some merit in the Dumbos of the world, no matter how much you might disagree with them.
4. While evangelicals join the debate about what (or who) is good for this country and for the cause of Christ, there’s a curious lack of discussion about the Kingdom of God and how it goes beyond the borders of the contiguous 48. While I’ve no doubt that God loves the USA, the most famous verse in the Bible talks of God’s love for the entire world, not just this country. Perhaps remembering that might allow a person to realize that while a political regime might not be good for the “health” and “wealth” of this country, maybe it would be good for the Kingdom of God, which is ultimately where our allegiance lies.
5. My favorite moment in election season will occur this evening. When the votes are tabulated and enough precincts have reported to declare a winner, the losing candidate will take to the podium and offer a concession speech. Even though perhaps spoken through clenched teeth and regretful eyes, the conceding nominee will display a degree of civility and grace that don’t show up when the communist rebels go to the polls on the other side of the world. It’s a reminder to me that despite the incensed vitriol that characterizes so much of political debate and our world in general, humility and politeness are indeed possible.
Or, in other words, in the midst of a weary world, every once in a while the light shines.