New Day, New Opportunity

Hallelujah! It’s over!

As I watched the returns roll in tonight, I basked in the beautiful silence. No phone calls from political volunteers, Super Bowl champions, or B-list TV actors telling me how to vote. No commercials full of melodramatic music and shameful propaganda. It got to the point where I cared more about the end—any end—than any particular candidate or issue. I’m sure I’m not alone.

I don’t know the rules about claiming Old Testament prophecy for modern-day America, but I’ve always loved 2 Chronicles 7:13-15: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The sermon I heard last weekend pointed out that it’s no accident this passage starts out with humbling ourselves. Pretty much everything good that comes from God starts with people humbling themselves. It’s humbling when your guy loses. It’s humbling to have to follow someone whose ideology is 180 degrees from your own. Yet God says that’s the first step in the healing of our land. Interesting.

I couldn’t vote for Barack Obama because he doesn’t represent my views, but I’m still hopeful that he’ll breathe fresh air into a weary nation. I’m willing to give the guy a chance. I’m also proud to live in a nation that elects its first African-American president just a handful of generations out from the horror of slavery.

Obama’s views offer those of us who don’t agree with him an opportunity—a kick in the butt is more like it—to exercise our personal responsibility and not just our patriotic responsibility. Take abortion, for example, an issue that’s dear to my heart. It’s clear we’re not going to make much political headway in the next four years on this issue, so let’s roll up our sleeves and take our passion to another front. Let’s start investing personally in the lives of the girls and women who are most at-risk for unexpected pregnancies. Let’s tangibly support the brave women who choose to carry their babies and give them up. (I can’t imagine anything harder.) Let’s come alongside the women who keep their babies. That may mean buying them clothes and baby food, or babysitting while they’re earning their GED. Let’s pour our money and time into Christian crisis pregnancy centers that tell women the truth—that human life is never an accident. If the government’s not going to do it for us, let’s make a difference ourselves. I’ve just gotta wonder if this isn’t what Jesus had in mind for us all along.

I’m so thankful that though a lot changed today, He did not. His rule and reign comes with no term limits. Can I hear an amen?