Living in a city
with a few million other residents, makes me thankful for early voting. I took
advantage of this option last weekend. On
Sunday afternoon I found myself weaving my way amongst the other vehicles
searching for a parking place at the nearest early voting location. Had the parking not already taken enough
great effort, I may have chosen to try another day when I walked into the
“waiting” room and saw a couple hundred others already in line. But this is my civic duty, I was already
there, and I needed to make my vote count.
Standing in line
with a sample ballot in my hand, I soon found myself in conversation with the
guy in front of me. He too was looking
over the sample ballot provided in the waiting area. He shared that he had not been in Houston for
long and felt that he had not done due diligence in paying attention to the
local candidates and issues like he should have. Something he said next struck me…”It’s not
like my vote counts anyway. I’m just one
measly person. But it’s my duty, so I’m
here to vote.”
How easy it is for
so many to make the choice not to even battle the lines at the voting booths
for the same reason. Rationalizing that
with millions of others voting across America, how could their one vote really
make a difference???
But it is my
country, the President is the leader that I am to follow, (“Let everyone be
subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that
which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by
God.” Romans 13:1), so my vote is going to count.
I love that just
before Paul penned those words in Romans, he wrote, “Do not be overcome with
evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). And preceded that with
phrases such as….
“Love must be
sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good” (12:9)
“Be joyful in
hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (12:12)
“Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse” (12:14)
“Be careful to do
what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends
on you, live at peace with everyone” (12:17-18)
I think today I’m
struck most with verse 12…
BE JOYFUL IN HOPE,
PATIENT IN AFFLICTION, FAITHFUL IN PRAYER
That’s how I’m
going to make my vote count. By adhering to these words of Paul.
This morning, I
was reminded yet again how we never know what each day will hold. The first text I received greeted me with the
news of last night’s tragic death of a young college guy I had the
privilege of teaching when he was in middle school. I am grieving for his
parents, his friends, and all those he has touched in his short life.
And it’s making me
embrace yet again this reminder to make today count because….
I don’t know what
today or tomorrow (or Tuesday’s election) holds.
But I do know my
God.
So I will be “joyful
in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.”
Prayer for my
country, for its leaders, and for tomorrow is my way of making my vote count.
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