Election Day

In the fall of 1984, I was pastor of the Milton Baptist Church in rural north-central Kentucky.  On election day, Cindy and I went to the Milton Fire House to cast our votes. In such a small community the voting process seemed fairly straightforward.  As we walked in, we greeted and were greeted with the familiarity of a small town where everyone knows everyone.  As we went through the formality of presenting identification and verifying addresses, we were surprised to learn that our household was divided more so than we realized.  In that particular election, Cindy and I were supporting different candidates...a division of loyalties that had made for interesting discussion, but little more than that.  The surprise for us that day came when the poll officials couldn't find one of us in her official voter registration list.  After a few moments of spirited conversation about the obvious miscarriage of justice in allowing only one of us to vote, it was discovered that indeed, we were both registered, but in different precincts.  You see, even though it was a small community, there was an East Milton and West Milton precinct.  Somehow, though registered at the same address, we appeared in different precincts.  We all laughed about the obvious mistake, then we cast our opposite votes and went on our way.

Of course, our differences were purely political and our separate precinct assignments simply a mistake, but the issues that often divide us as a nation and within our particular communities in an election year are not so easily overcome. This election cycle seems to have been particularly divisive on many levels. I do not remember a recent election where the rhetoric and hyperbole have been as overblown as this year. Extremists on both sides have made near-apocalyptic predictions about the future if their candidate does not win. Rational, otherwise thinking people have gotten caught up in this debate and the stakes seem higher by the minute. I understand the passion of politics and the ideologies that drive such passions. It does matter who wins any election, which is why participating in the process is not just a privilege to be acknowledged, but an opportunity not to be missed. That said, I would remind us that whoever wins will need the prayers of persons of faith. I believe we honor the Lord when we participate fully in the electoral process and act responsibly as citizens of this nation. But one person, and most likely one political party, will not lead us to better days solely on their own. It will take people from all perspectives, learning to work together not for personal or partisan gain, but for the good of the nation. We are capable of such responsible citizenship and I believe we should expect that kind of leadership from our elected officials. The privilege of the voting process is too precious and been purchased by the faithful dedication and sacrifice of too many people to settle for anything less.

Regardless of your precinct assignment or party affiliation, celebrate the freedom you experience as a citizen of this great nation and give thanks for the privilege of participating in this electoral process. The living God will still be at work, regardless of who wins this election...that is the best news of all!

Jim Abernathy