November 9, 2008 6:23 AM
Post-election - for those whose hearts are heavy
A writer friend of mine from California left this as a comment, but I want to highlight it because it has relevance for everyone:
I cried myself to sleep Tues. night after the election. I felt overwhelmed, betrayed, and fearful for my children's future.Yesterday a car pulled behind mine at the gas station. It had USMC on the plate so I walked over and introduced myself. I told the man my son had just returned with the Marines from Afgahnistan and thanked him for his service. He told me he was a career Marine and had been in Korea and two deployments to Vietnam. It was there that he adopted his daughter.
Being the noisy reporter type I asked him how that came about. This is what he replied, "The second time I went I was an officer.Our headquarters were across from a Catholic orphanage. At one point I realized I cannot save this nation, but perhaps I could save the life of just one child."
I thought about that encounter and how it applies to the election.I am so overwhelmed with what I cannot do. Instead I should be thinking and praying about what I can do.
I may not be able to save the nation but with God's help ....
Thanks for letting me chime in,
Marci Seither
Does this resonate with you the way it does with me?
One of my personal heroes is Mother Teresa (along with Joan of Arc - two different ways of facing the world). For two years I've been wearing a bracelet which says:
One can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa
Reminding myself of that several times a day may have helped in my acceptance of the things I cannot change.
There was much the post-election encouragement I wrote for you did not say. It did not speak of my own disappointment, the discipline involved in each day turning my heart from dwelling on that sadness to seeing God's work still going on around us.
God's work is in our hands. What this Marine said is so true:
I cannot save this nation, but perhaps I could save the life of just one child.
I thank God that Marci gleaned this bit of wisdom and then shared it with us. See how God cares for us? We need to reach out to Him and ask Him what He wants us to do next.
I know we're busy, but how can we get involved in serving - wherever possible, with our children by our sides? How can we become more salt and more light? If you can get your hands on a copy, please read my Reaching the Left from the Right. It is all about how we can learn to live graciously in a world where we are misjudged - and often with good reason.
I wrote Friday of listening for the still, small voice. Let us each listen for that voice and see where God wants us to turn our attention next. In everything, give him thanks and praise. I don't mean that as a platitude but as a recipe for joy in even the worst circumstances, I have no idea what kind of world my children will be living in in 20 years (I said this 20 years ago - and think how the world has changed in the past 20 years), but what I do know is this: I want my children to have the faith and courage to handle whatever comes their way.
We have a chance once every four years to affect how our country is governed from the top. The things we hold dear may prevail or they may not. But God has graciously granted us opportunities every day to make a difference in the lives of others.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
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Comments
Barbara, thank you for this post. My feelings and reaction on Tuesday evening was very similar to those of your friend. After several days of reflection, I realized that there are many things that I can't control, but that I can continue to live my life and raise my three children in a way that is consistent with my beliefs.
Posted by: KatieButler | November 9, 2008 8:04 AM
I have some thoughts about this. I notice that a lot of prolifers feel very betrayed right now.
I have talked to a lot of devout christians who voted for Obama. These are the kinds of Christians who are not visiting your blog and didn't know a lot of what we know. Their reasoning for voting Obama is that the last several Republican presidents didn't end abortion. They figure the legal battle for abortion is lost and the next best thing is limiting abortions and just making the world a better place. They feel that "change"...any kind, is worth a shot.
The defeat was as much our fault (republicans/prolifers) as anyone elses. We did not run a great campaign. We did not give people a vision of "change". We did not defeat the stereotype that republicans are only for the rich.
This defeat needs to motivate us to really study the other sides positions and discover what attracts people. Don't make sweeping generalizations about the people who voted opposite of us.
Clearly the world has craved an American symbol that embraces multi-culturalism. 43 old white presidents and several wars that other countries find suspiciously imperialistic led to this craving. It is really a shame that Republicans did not intuit the needs of Americans and the world well enough to meet this need first. It is lesson we can learn from.
I have voted in 3 elections and every time I voted Republican. I am a died-in-the-wool outspoken conservative. Being outspoken and a very good listener has made me realize the flaws in our party and its platform. We are not viewed as the party of compassion. We are viewed as the party of strict ideology and anti-pragmatism.
We can fix this.
Posted by: paigeu | November 9, 2008 11:15 AM
Barbara - Our pastor just sent this out last night. It's a worthwhile read. It's no secret that I was not and am not a fan of Obama, however, he is the man that God has placed in office. Therefore, it is important that we continue to pray for him and other elected officials.
WHAT NOW? THOUGHTS ON THE RECENT ELECTION
With the distance increasing of almost anything in the public expression of words and deeds from biblical definition, we should not be surprised that more and more people will long for some kind of human savior, whether personal or institutional. It has ever been the case that when the true God is banished altogether or relegated to minimal acknowledgment or times of crisis, man will take center stage—the image of the beast that the devil’s minions enliven and thereby successfully deceive all manner of people. So it is for those whose portion is in this life, even if their god is not always their belly but they at times seek to rise above the visceral level of the multitudes that live for eating, drinking and other bodily pleasure. And so understandably there have been many expressions of messianism during the interminable election season just completed.
Regardless of our sentiments of the election’s outcome, the apostle’s exhortation to pastor Timothy holds true for us and also as a first priority: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim 2.1-4 ESV)
Surely one ironic beauty in these words is that the government Paul referred to was Rome and her puppet rulers throughout the empire. And it was not only intercession he insisted on but thanksgiving. Anything short of anarchy that permits something resembling a quiet and peaceful life should for every believer be an object of praise to God; and further, because such praise is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. Then without wasting a moment to evaluate the character of the rulers or their rule, the apostle hastens to the real point of the intercession he enjoins: the furtherance of the Gospel of God’s grace in the world.
Over the 72 hours of November 3 to 5, 2008 nothing changed of God’s revealed purpose for his people. So let us, brethren especially those of us who have church leadership responsibility—be sure we are setting an example of prudence and selfcontrol that perseveres in private and public prayer for our elected officials, prayer for God to restrain violence against any person in office and that God’s people, fixing their eyes on the exalted, reigning Lord Christ, will be of such heavenly mindedness that they will achieve much earthly good. For this too is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.
—David Green, Chairman of New England Reformed Fellowship
Posted by: Kim | November 9, 2008 4:29 PM
Barbara:
Don't feel bad. We are now going to have that mighty pendulum swing back and we are looking at the possibility of having a huge victory over the Democrats and the abortionists in the 2010 midterm elections.
Keep hope alive!
Posted by: Joe | November 9, 2008 9:46 PM
Thank you so much for this post. It was exactly what I needed to hear. I have been so full of sorrow since election day and this has brought my spirits back up. There are still things that we can do to show God to others and to help our country. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Momma | November 10, 2008 11:17 AM
Barbara- You are such an encouragement! I am going to go back and read through your post sloooowly tommorow. :) God bless you- I am praying for Tripp. ( what an awesome guy)
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | November 10, 2008 10:40 PM
Thank you so much for this post. I needed to hear that. I especially liked this: "We need to reach out to Him and ask Him what He wants us to do next."
One good thing that has come of this is that I think a lot of us are looking around and asking, "What can we DO?" I know that I've felt prodded to talk much more openly about the abortion issue, particularly given the fact that I used to be rabidly pro-choice and did much to support that cause. I wrote a post about it here if you have any interest:
http://www.conversiondiary.com/2008/11/how-would-you-know.html
God bless, and keep up the good work!
Posted by: Jennifer (Et Tu?) | November 10, 2008 11:03 PM
