The past few days have been hard on my heart. Not because of the election results - I believe God puts people in power, whether it's the person I voted for or not. No, my heart has been hurt by the people that I love who have said or posted things that condescendingly lump together every other person that saw things differently than they did. [And since the politics of this country are pretty evenly divided, every time we talk about "them" we are talking about half of all Americans...if you're like me and have a diverse group of friends, that could be a lot of people you care about.]
I know this was a particularly bitter election. I know people are passionately invested in their view - I'm one of them. I've been devastated over elections in the past because I truly could not comprehend what the people who voted opposite me were thinking. But it is one thing to not understand or think the person who voted differently from you was wrong...misinformed...naive. It is entirely another to size up their hearts and assign them motives based on your opinions. And I'm sick of it. And I'm suddenly awfully sorry for all the times I've done it.
If you know me at all you know that I'm not a racist. I'm not homophobic. I'm not uneducated or illiterate. I'm not sexist or a misogynist. I try not to hate anybody. I really, truly have been praying and preparing to respect a leader I didn't vote for - a leader that I believed to be a liar and a cheater and a briber and quite possibly a murderer...a leader that believes things that go against my most important deeply held values. But as a believer, I'm called to respect authority. As an American, I'm called to appreciate the freedom we have and that means accepting what the people choose even when I think they've chosen wrong...even when their choice does not reflect me. I realize that a lot of people were genuinely shocked by the outcome of the election so I'm trying to have grace and compassion for those that maybe haven't had enough time yet to adjust. I know the stages of grief that come before acceptance. I know it's hard. Believe me, when it comes to politics, I've been there...more than once.
But...
I keep thinking about how, as a believer, I can show love. How do I walk in love when people that I love are saying incredibly hateful things about me by lumping me into a group. I've tried to stay silent. I've resisted the urge to defend myself over and over. (I didn't vote for hate, I voted against tyranny. I didn't vote for a bully I voted against a crook. What should you tell your kids? Well tell them to be encouraged that you still can't lie, cheat, steal and murder your way into power. How did this happen? This happened because a lot of us are sick of being condescended to because we still value things like freedom and opportunity and life even if it is unborn.) Because, you see, that is a big part of the problem - we are all picking our version of the "truth" and then throwing everyone else with a different "truth" under the bus. We've got a bunch of labels we get to pick and apply. I have seen so many slanted posts, articles, etc. that are presented as "truth" that I just want to scream. No matter how authoritatively you say something, no matter how strongly you believe it, that doesn't make it TRUTH. It's still your opinion. Well, he IS a bully. Nope. Opinion. Well, she IS a crook. You guessed it, opinion. Because very few things in this world are actually unequivocally true and when it comes to sizing up people's hearts and motives, we cannot know the depths of another person. We can't. Not possible. Yes, he's said incredibly insensitive things. Yes, she's been investigated. Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions and our slant and yes, we're allowed to look down on people that just don't "get it" (according to us).
Unless...
If you're a believer, like me, we're called to something higher.
We're called to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Some of you are saying incredibly hateful things about me and my vote. And I'm afraid if the tables were turned, I would be saying incredibly hateful things about you and your vote. But I hope not. I hope that I would be trying with all my might to be gracious and optimistic. Because no single man or woman is going to destroy our country. We the people might try but that's possible no matter who is President. Ultimately, Jesus reigned long before there was a United States and He will reign long after this incredible idea has passed away.
Can we at least consider that we might never be able to change the world or politics on our own but we are going to interact with our friends and loved ones in real life, face to face? And the things we are saying and doing right now impacts those friends and loved ones?
It hurts me when you categorize me as a bigot or an idiot or a homophobe. I'm sure it hurts you when I categorize you as a baby killer or a free-loader or a moron. It's not true and it's not helpful. And I am so very sorry. I remember how disappointed I've been in past elections. I said things I wish I could take back. This time, I'm trying to listen. To love. To understand. And all I can say is this: I'm sorry you're hurting. I'm sorry that you're confused and disappointed. I'm sorry you feel helpless and hopeless and out of touch with the new administration. I understand. I've felt all those things. But can we just pause for a moment and remember who we are? Remember our relationship? I'm your friend, your niece, your co-worker. I didn't vote out of hate, I voted out of the same frustration you're feeling. I voted out of my faith just like you did. Can't we disagree on what this country needs and still realize we need each other? Can't we still try to be kind instead of condescending? Oh how I hope so.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8
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