Not the End of the World

Recently, a good friend from another country asked me, ‘..yes, but how are you voting?’ The question was within an email, in fact tagged to the end of the email. My fingers hesitated at the keyboard before responding, because, one does not know how info such as this could affect a friendship.

While I did not specify how we would vote, I did say that whatever the outcome of the election, it would not be the end of the world.

I said this because it is almost certainly true. If, as hinted in an earlier blog, I am worried that Someone may become president instead of Someone Else, my mind will usually begin to review all the reasons why Eternity is far more important than Who becomes a president. But let’s say that all our fears and dreads of Election Day come true…let’s say that the Someone we wished would not gain the White House does indeed gain it, and let’s also say that an important, potentially life-changing Proposition does not pass. 

What may happen the next day, or the next January 21?  Let us pause to consider.

It may be safely predicted that if such things do take place, we will proceed as Americans have proceeded for more than two centuries. We will cope, and support, and work, and pray. And then vote again in the next election. That is what we will do. Even if one day the tide of opinion sways dreadfully against people of faith as some predict, and if some kind of persecution follows this sway, we will stand as others have stood before, looking ‘Far Beyond the Moment’. 

Let us not forget that some of our brothers and sisters worldwide are already looking beyond, at this moment in time. They don’t have to wait for that time, it is their time now. All of this is happening to them while Americans await the results of an election. These other dear ones may already have lost freedoms, said goodbye to loved ones, breathed their own last breath. I submit to you as we look around that we can have no other choice than to be thankful for everything wonderful that still exists, day after day after blessed day. If we just take a moment to look, we must see before us the loveliness of a United States that still protects and leads, and is the sincere goal of millions of freedom lovers. We stand, and are thankful.

And so, whatever the outcome of this election, the end of the world remains the realm of the future, not the present. Not yet, anyway. And until then, we will cope, and support, and work, and pray. Pray for those to whom the highest office will be granted, that they may rule wisely and decide well on our behalf. We have survived worse.