Thoughts on the Election

Social media posts and out of pocket opinions forced my hand. In the past few days I’ve mainly tried to just live. I helped with a science experiment at homeschool co-op. Do you think honey or caro syrup is denser? Honey every time! Juliette practiced reading ‘Henry and Mudge’ to me while the fire blazed and Garnet corrected her errors over my shoulder. I hiked and talked with my sister-in law about whether we should jump on the creatine bandwagon or not. I received pictures of my mom and Lily at a seafood restaurant near Lil’s college.

I allowed myself social media in limited doses. I saw a post that showed the blue on the United States map as America, and the red as Dumf$&@istan. So I thought I’d go through some facts and fallacies.

Fallacy #1-Christians are a right leaning, gun toting, ill educated, bigoted group of humans who shouldn’t have a piece of the electoral college pie.

Fact-Most hospitals, relief agencies and widespread education are contributed to Jesus followers. Why?? Because the Gospel changes us from the inside out. It puts action and duty in front of feelings. It compels kindness. World Vision, Red Cross, and Samaritan’s purse ‘go into the world’ to heal, redeem and restore brokenness.

I had babies at a Catholic hospital completely free because Catholics see the value of family and children. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Oxford, all started by Christians. Did you know that most, if not all, the written records we have from the Middle Ages are thanks to monks who wrote everything down??? This is not to say that there haven’t been major failings in the church at large, but overwhelmingly Christians who are wanting to be like Christ, love well! And when we don’t, there’s forgiveness!!!

Fallacy #2- If a person says, does or thinks anything unacceptable or ugly they can never enter the public square again and must be shamed eternally and move to Siberia if possible.

Fact #2-We all fall short! I’ve thought, said and done terrible things. One time I danced with another guy at a line dancing bar, just to send the message to the guy I was seeing that I was over it. 🤢 But there’s forgiveness and restoration. What are we even doing if we are defined by our worst moments? Repent, rejoice, repeat. This is being human. We thought something, and now we know better, change and move on. Extend the same grace you’d like to receive to others!

Fallacy #3-One political side is the party of love and tolerance, the other is the side of hate and bigotry (othering much???)

Fact #3- There are bad characters in every sex, race, creed, etc… but at the end of the day most people want to work, provide for their people, be kind, and be treated kindly, eat good food, laugh, and get a really good night of sleep. I kept thinking thru this election cycle that the French Revolution vibes were strong.

The Taylor Swifts, and Beyoncé s (Marie Antoinettes) telling us regular folks(Jean ValJeans) what is important, and us being like, ‘But, I don’t think I can afford bread.’

Fallacy #4-My husband told me how to vote.

Fact#4-Come on 🙈

The people spoke and said, ‘Enough! Enough being condescended! Enough being gaslit, Enough!’ People want a revolution! They’re so tired of the elitists (think influencer on insta with their designer coffee and clothes) preaching about the evils of the Middle Eastern conflict) Out of touch!!!! The proverbial cat is out of the bag and I really hope their reign of terror is over!

Finally, I understand. I understand why the messaging of love and acceptance is such a siren song, but it’s missing the mark. If I love my kids, which I do, I also want them to thrive! I want them to know the honor that comes from hard work. I want them to be strong and overcome life’s adversities. I want them surrounded by people who are chasing good, and not hedonism. I want them to not lean on the government for all their needs, but maybe eat ramen to pay their way thru school. Love and acceptance is beautiful! It’s what America offers. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! This why so many people have sacrificed so much to be here. It’s what Christ offers when we humbly say, ‘I’m not enough.’ ‘I can’t be my everything.’ ‘I’m not judge and jury.’

I really hope America can find some peace. She feels middle-aged and tired. She has been mismanaged and berated, but!!! We just finished the book ‘Endless Steppe.’ It’s about a Polish Jewish family that’s exiled to Siberia during WW2. So here they are, in Siberia, at the end of the war and they’re concerned about who will be president in America after FDR. They were so thankful to America and all her help ❤️. America is tired, but so beautiful and still( I promise) the land of the free and the home of the brave!