Some things shouldn’t be easy

 

Since the clocks fell back last weekend, I’ve been waking up earlier than usual and have not been a happy camper as a result. Our bed is positioned in such a way that when the sun comes up over the eastern horizon the light zaps me in the face, jolting me out a perfectly restful state and I can’t get back to sleep.  I hate it.

But this morning I didn’t mind.  I wanted to get out early and vote.

With coffee in hand, Wolf and I headed up our hill to the neighbor’s private garage that today becomes a public meeting place.  We left a little early and joined the small crowd that was beginning to form.  As we stood in the fog waiting for the polls to open we remarked to one another how great it was to gather with our neighbors, most of whom we have never met.  Although we’d never laid eyes on most of them, there was a collective soul of which I was proud to be a part.

Pretty soon though, we heard some whispers that surprised us.  A woman ahead of us complained that the fog was ruining her hair and was ticked that she hadn’t registered to vote by mail.  The guy behind us loudly posed the question that if we can shop, book flights, and apply for a loan on the internet, why can’t we vote on line?  He grunted on about how it would make life so much easier.

That got me to thinking.

Some things shouldn’t be easy.

On that Fall morning every four years, I am forced to think about how much it cost for me to be able to put that ballot in the box. As we walked towards the polling place, I was reminded of the guts it took for those first immigrants to get on those wooden boats and travel to an unknown land, driven by the unquenchable desire to have a say in how to live their lives, extending that privilege to present day common folk like us.  I think of the millions of people in scores of wars who have spilled their blood so that my day-in and day-out liberties to buy, sell, say, love, and worship are protected.  I think of all those who are willing to sacrifice time, talent and resources on a civic level to make my everyday life comfortable.  I think of the men and women all over the world right this very minute who wouldn’t dare express a public opinion out of fear for their very lives… yet I got to walk up that hill in the fog this morning.

I don’t want it to be easy.

I read this week that a huge percentage of people won’t vote today because they either don’t have time or they think it’s a waste of time.  What?  Man or woman, gay or straight, wealthy or poor, black or white, employed or unemployed, old or young… our vote is our voice.  And as for believers, it is our responsibility to vote for leaders who will uphold Godly standards no matter how long it takes or what anyone thinks.  Through the very act of voting, we declare Whose side we’re on and, extra bonus: we get to participate in furthering God’s will.

After this is over and the tallies are all in, no matter who wins, we’ve got to remember God’s got this one.  At the end of the day, we’ve earnestly got to pray that the man who will occupy the Oval Office in January will seek God- not popular opinion- as he serves the people in his leadership.  As my friend Stefanie Kelly said this morning “… today is a GOOD day regardless…and the next 4 years (if the Lord doesn’t return) will be four GOOD years simply because our God, the living God, the Redeemer of all creation is GOOD.”

First of all then, I urge that prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men;  for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,  Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.         

 1 Timothy 2:1-4

 

Sylvia is a singer and Christian women’s speaker, and lives in Southern California.

Read Sylvia’s other posts, and LIKE her on Facebook!

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  29. Well said. When things are easy, things are easy…including ease of complaint and disatisfaction and boredom. I love the reminder that God is good no matter what goes down. We don’t see all the pieces on the board!

  30. Love this post and the reminder of the price of freedom and the awesome privilege to have a voice. And even if/when our candidates lose – God is ultimately and always in control!

  31. Far too much of abundant life is lost in the search for it to be easy. As steel sharpens steel, so the challenges of life, be them spiritual, physical, or emotional, form us into the beings we were designed to be. That is, of course, if we embrace them and allow them to be that steel in our lives. Walk into the pain, don’t run from it!

    The truth is that the masses that don’t vote have a profound impact on our government. Most of them fall into “the middle”, and since they don’t vote we continue to become a society with a government that is more polarized and divided. If they voted, and voted the middle ground, politicians would have to appeal to them to get elected, resulting in a government that would actually work together to accomplish the things that need to be accomplished.

  32. Sylvia, This was so well written, I could even picture you and Wolf as you walked to your polling “House” I enjoyed going with my Son, and visiting with neighbors as we stood in line. I don’t think I will ever mail in my vote, it’s a great expirence.

  33. Amen to all that you said! Ed and I literally walk to our polling place with our sealed…”at home~mail- in ballot”…( so we can thoughtfully go over the ballot at the comfort of our own table…with open discussion) to hand it to the volunteers who so unselfishly work the polling places! It is one of the ongoing neighborly things that takes place in our communities around the US! I agree…. now we are called to pray for him….even if we did not have our way! God is still in control! Thanks for the reminder.

  34. You are an amazing writer, Sylvia! I have enjoyed all of your posts and always look forward to the next one.

  35. I have one small comment about something you said in the body of the blog message about our elected leader ruling us. Every president since George Washington has been elected to SERVE the nation’s interests and its people. We are fortunate that we are a part of a government OF the people BY the people FOR the people…It disturbed me when Obama’s female spokesperson on the first go-round stated that Obama would ‘rule from day one’. Hmmmm, that’s odd….no president I’ve ever seen prior to Obama has EVER ‘RULED’ us, but has SERVED us. The sooner we as a people get out from under the fascade of a ruler-over-us mentality the more healing we’ll experience as a people and nation.

  36. Well said….I love that God gave us each individual freedom to CHOOSE. To choose to vote and do it is HUGE.

  37. I don’t agree with your religious beliefs but I like many of the things you say and how you say them. I have allot of co-workers who are the ones you described who aren’t sure they’re going to “get around to” voting today which frosts me. They can’t find time? Can’t they see how important this election is?

    1. Hi Josh, thanks for your words and yes, I agree with your frustration with your co-workers. The important thing is that you go do it, eh?

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