The election and "God"

I think back to the previous presidential elections and I was so geared up; so nervous. I would stay up until all hours of the night watching the returns. This year has been different. I've been strangely emotionally removed from this year's election process. Maybe it's because of all the nasty accusations and relentless advertising. Maybe it's because deep in my mind I knew how it would turn out. Maybe it's because, for the first time, I just didn't know what to vote for anymore. Being the good white Christian that I am, I have always voted Republican. Without question. But after watching "my" party the last 4 years make grievous mistakes, I started questioning what "they" believed in. Does the Republican party represent me or just a part of me? And why is abortion the one issue that ranks at the top? What about war? What about financial responsibility? I am not just anti-abortion, against raising taxes, and against hand-outs to those who refuse to work. Weeks before I went to vote, I printed off the sample ballot for my district. I then went through each candidates website from President to Commissioner of Agriculture to District Court Judges. I spent time seeing who was most like me; who I would want to represent me. I was saddened by the results. This election, for me, was the lesser of two evils. For the first time it wasn't about who represented me the best, whose values and voting record would closely match my own - because I couldn't find one. No. This year was more trying to pick the person whose values were the furthest from mine and voting against that. Candidates from the Republican and Democratic party all came up short.

The God of both parties? I watched last night as predominately African-American churches were singing and praying and holding vigils for Barack Obama to be president. For the Lord to hear their prayers. I watched last night as predominately white churches did the same for John McCain. One African-American woman, after Obama was elected president, stated "this is the day the Lord has made!" And from all the emails I have been sent today, you would think that Jesus Christ himself was coming back tomorrow because of this election result alone. How is it possible we are praying to the same God? How is it possible that Republicans believe their prayers weren't answered but "God is still in control" and Democrats believe their prayers were answered and "God is still on his throne". Is this what it has come to? And what does this rhetoric say to the unbeliever? If I didn't believe in God and I saw all this mess, I wouldn't want to believe in Him. I couldn't help but watch and think of my Savior and wonder what He thought.

If African-Americans believe God answered their prayers because a black man was elected President they should be ashamed. If white Americans believe God answered our prayers 4 years ago because George Bush was elected president then we should be ashamed. Jesus taught us how to pray - and no where in that prayer was "oh Jesus, please let the Republican party win!". My son last night was saying his prayers. He knew the election results were coming in and he was strongly in favor of McCain (as much as you can be for 8 years old). When he started his prayer, I knew he would pray like any 8 year old would "Lord, please let John McCain win". I mean after all, he doesn't have the maturity to pray anything greater than that right? He surprised me. His prayer was simple. "Lord, whoever gets to be President, help him make the right decisions. Help him make good decisions. Amen." Amen indeed.