VOTE!

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
 
Thought for the Day: American politics (as well as politics in many other parts of the world) has devolved. Instead of people who serve out of love and a sense of responsibility to their brothers, sisters, and country, we have a two party system full of serpents bent on biting and devouring each other—and taking us along for the hell-ride with them.
 
Things are so bad that we now have a political system destroying our country by their inaction. It’s not that they’re making bad laws, they’re just not doing anything! Our political parties are so polarized they refuse to cooperate with each other for the good of the nation. One of the parties even proudly proclaims that their entire agenda is to say “no” to everything the other party proposes, even if the proposal makes sense. This is not government of, by and for the people. It’s a guaranteed path to total annihilation.
 
We have a chance to make a difference today. Vote for people who will do what’s right for the country, not what’s right for their pockets or their political party. Shed the shackles of party politics, and vote for the best people on the ballot. I know this is a tall order, because in many cases—like the Florida governors’ race, both candidates should be in jail and have the privilege of running for office stripped forever. We are, in too many cases, voting for the lesser of two evils. But if we want to change even that depressing scenario, we must vote, and vote chanting the mantra “love your neighbor as yourself.”
 
Voting is a responsibility to each other to create the systems we need to thrive, and to elect the officials we honestly believe will do their best for this once great country, now fading into ignominy and irrelevance.
 
Prayer: God of salvation, save us from the evil trap of hate and selfishness. Fill our hearts with love for our brothers and sisters of all genders, sexual orientations and colors, legal and illegal, who need a country that once again carries the torch of freedom, who need a country that once again welcomes the poor, huddled masses, who need a country that once again loves its neighbor. Amen.