By Joy Adams

As a former History and American Government teacher I love politics. But even more than politics, I love people and I love learning about why people do what they do. I enjoy trying to put myself in their shoes and truly seeing something from a new angle. Frequently, I have friends who have different opinions than mine and I actually enjoy learning not just what their viewpoint is, but understanding the why behind it. This is not an exercise in debate for me, in fact there is no debate, it is an exercise in compassion.

Compassion – sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Merriam-Webster’s Disctionary

When I am hearing someone else’s political opinions I am listening not for the weak point in their argument, but I am listening for their heart.
My heart’s desire is for community. Not in a sense that we all agree on everything, but in a way where we all value each other.

My oldest son is in first grade and at his public elementary school there is an amazing sense of community. In a recent parent meeting there was debate in regards to school safety. Some parents argued that the school should have a fence surrounding the entire perimeter of the school and that no one (parents included) should be allowed on campus (before, after, or during school) without first checking into the office. This would have parents picking up and dropping off their students at the perimeter gate which would remain locked during school hours. Other parents argued that having their kids attending a school that was on perpetual lock down creates a prison-like feel and would remove the strong sense of safety and community in which the school is known for. Concern was also raised about the safety of the kids if a dangerous person was to come on campus, how would the children get to safety if they were in fact locked inside with the potential threat?

I left this school safety meeting amazed at the civility and honor in which parents presented their viewpoints. Their passion for the safety of their children was evident, but their passion was not at the expense of the other parents’ need to also have their ideas and comments heard. In fact after the meeting, I witnessed two of the more outspoken parents, each with opposing views, approach each other, shake hands, and thank each other for their participation in the meeting. Wow, to see disagreeing adults act with honor was so refreshing.

I crave to see this type of honor among disagreeing adults in the realm of politics. Instead I see friends who are intelligent and otherwise loving and kind, name calling politicians, belittling the supporters of such politicians, and completely disregarding any idea that comes from the opposing camp.
I taught high school for nine years and my husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist by trade. Within these professions being an eternal optimist is the key. The second we believe that someone is beyond saving, it becomes true, a self-fulfilled prophecy. Not that the person is truly beyond saving, but that we no longer are granted access to be a part of the transformation. Because let’s face it, we don’t allow people who lack honor and integrity towards us, to speak into our lives. If this is true in our own lives, how much more is it true in the lives of those we wish to influence?

In the Bible King Saul, the first king of Israel began his reign with a very high approval rate. But in the end, his reign was not one of integrity to God or his people, but one of personal vendettas. (1 Samuel 8-31). On the contrary, King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon was so full of himself that he had a statue made in his image rising 90 feet high and announced immediate judgement (death by blazing furnace) to anyone who would not bow down and worship his image. He had no fear of God or man and yet he consistently promoted those with integrity and wisdom. By the end of his days, this pagan king was praising the God of heaven. (Daniel chapters 1-4.)

The lives of King Saul and King Nebuchadnezzar serve as reminders to me that governmental leaders are first and foremost human. Secondly, their lives remind me that we all have the ability to change for good or for bad.
Hypothetically, if I lived in Bible times and was given the choice to elect King Saul or King Nebuchadnezzar, I would have chosen King Saul, and later would have been disappointed in his performance as king. On the contrary, I don’t think I would have ever chosen King Nebuchadnezzar, but in the end, he consistently chose to surround himself with wise counsel and the same man who once ordered his subjects to worship him, now worshiped and gave credit to the God of the universe.

What is my point? I have a few:

• We should care more about people than political affiliations.
• We should care more about people than we do platforms.
• We should allow people, including ourselves and our elected officials, the freedom to grow and change, rather than keep ourselves and others imprisoned by past actions, beliefs, and affiliations.
• We should live our lives in such a place of honor that if ever given the chance to have an audience with a king, our lives will have built the bridge to allow us the freedom to speak truth in love. Just as Daniel of the Bible did to King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel chapters 1-4).

Are you passionate about the platform closest to your heart? Great! Be passionate in love.

Are you passionate about truth in a world where “fake news” abounds and every broadcast seems to have an agenda? Awesome! Share the truth in love.

Does your background (religion, country of origin, etc.) make many political topics very personal for you? Beautiful! Share your story with love and allow others to do the same, even if their story brings them to a conclusion different from yours

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It alwyas protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

I love politics and I am passionate about my platforms, however I will not use my assumed correctness as an excuse to behave badly. I will NOT assign Biblical insults to human beings such as “Antichrist” or “Jezebel”. I will NOT break the bonds of friendship over differences of opinion, because I know that relationship and agreement are not synonymous. No matter what happens during the next election and the weeks and months that will follow, please:

…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 *emphasis added

I choose to do politics with honor, compassion and dripping with love. I invite you to join me.

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This past summer, my kids, (two boys, ages 4 and 7) along with my niece, age 8, who was at the time visiting with us, all attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) together.  One of the theme songs for the week, which quickly became one of their new favorites was Whole Lotta Change.  At the time, I did not know it, but in reality that VBS week became a pivotal time for our family and what started as a fun VBS song, has now become a theme song to our current season.  A season of change.

There’s a whole lotta change coming your way

’cause like it or not, nothing stays the same

so hold on tight, and follow real close

’cause God is good and He’s in control

Whole Lotta Change, Lifetree Kids, Roar VBS

By the end of that VBS week, we, my husband and I, offered to open our home to our niece, who we now consider as a daughter.  She has been with us since early August, 2019 and we could not imagine our lives without her.  She has become an amazing big sister to our boys and has added so much beauty, laughter, and love into our home.

Adding an additional family member has come with blessings too numerous to count.  It has also stretched our family and myself personally further than I thought possible.  We were unsuccessful in getting an inter-district transfer for my niece into our older son’s school.  This resulted in me spending three to four hours per day commuting to and from their separate campuses (two towns away from each other). In addition, the two separate schools had very similar start and end times, requiring the impossible, for me to be in two places at once. I was going to need help, but it was not easy for me to be in a situation that I needed help.  Being in a place of needing help, often left me feeling inadequate or as if I were still a kid. 

I am the youngest in my family, with two older sisters.  Growing up, I loved being the youngest, even though at times, between my actual mom and two older sisters, it sometimes felt like I had three moms.  I was well protected and well provided for.  As an adult, I have found that family dynamics are hard to change and that no matter how old I am, I will always be the little sister.  Within my family, I have come to be okay with this, but outside of the family setting, I have worked hard to become strong, to be a resource to others, and to not walk through life in ‘little sister’ mode.   It is for this reason, that it can be difficult for me to ask for help.  When my heart’s goal is to be a resource to others, it is really hard when I have to admit to myself and others that I need help.

Welcoming my niece into our family has brought so much joy into our home.  It has also exposed my inability to do everything on my own.  I have been humbled almost daily, as I have required help with the daily tasks of motherhood, such as drop offs and pick-ups from school.   I have had amazing friends (and family) come by my side to help me, including one special friend who helped me get my niece to school each day, effectively helping me to do what seemed impossible.   These friends have loved me, encouraged me, and have physically stepped in to help me when I fall short.  These types of friends are amazing and God sent. They also expose my areas of pride, self-reliance, and areas of vulnerability.  It is easy for me to give, it is harder and humbling for me to receive. 

I have often heard preachers say things such as “Sometimes God will ask us to do something bigger than ourselves”.  I, myself, have often found myself in a situation that was bigger than me, but generally in these circumstances, what is required is living a life of prayer and allowing God to work before me.  Lately, however, life being bigger than me, has required me to accept help when it is offered by others and to even ask for help before I am at my wits end. 

This season of change, has helped me to grow.  I am learning to be more organized, and I am realizing that asking for help does not equate to failure or being juvenile.  These are good and valuable lessons for me considering that another change is now underway.

This month, a new change has presented itself.  We have worked diligently and quickly to prepare for an unexpected increase in our family.  Another niece, age 15 and nephew, age 13 (older siblings to our niece that has already been in the home) have both just joined our family.    This most recent change is brand new.  It is both exciting and terrifying to think that we have suddenly become the parents to five kids, two of which are teens. 

Just to prepare for our newest additions, we have needed to call in the cavalry.  Friends and family have helped to organize and set up the kid’s bedroom, organize the linen closet, rearrange the pantry, and help pick up new cabinets for the garage, A.K.A. the homeschool room. (Did I mention I am homeschooling all five!)  Sheets and blankets have been purchased for the kids, as well as new shoes. Friends near and far are praying for the smooth transition of our beautiful blended family and we have received a few little white envelopes with cash inside.  I am humbled.  Humbled not from embarrassment that I couldn’t do this all on my own, but humbled with gratitude that we have so many loved ones who are cheering us on and who are willing to partner with us on this brand new adventure, that is far bigger than we are.

As we now move forward, as a newly established family of seven.  We know that this is only the beginning.  More changes are on the horizon, and I am not embarrassed to say that we will need prayers, hugs, love, support and most certainly, an occasional shoulder to cry on.   Our kids will need this too, all of them.  

Please keep us in your prayers.

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By Joy Adams

A few months ago, I was watching my older son, Jeremiah, as he and some of his friends were playing on the playground before school.  Many of the First grade boys, my son included were all playing tag.  Twice during their game, one of the little boys tripped and fell and both times my son, along with one of his classmates, both stopped to help the fallen boy.  All the while, the rest of the group continued in their game, completely unaware that one of their friends had taken a tumble.

This was a proud mommy moment for me, to see my son helping another classmate, but it was also an eye opener for me as I watched essentially the same scene unfold twice, both times to be only seen by the same two boys. 

During the school year, I volunteer in Jeremiah’s class weekly.  I know most of his classmates and many of their families.  All of the boys who were playing tag that day were good boys from good families.  None of those boys would have purposely and callously continued their game without regard to their fallen friend, they just did not see him. 

Time and time again in the Bible, Jesus says “He who has ears let them hear.” Watching my son with his classmates helped me to understand this scripture in greater depth.  Often times we see or hear an injustice in the world or a problem that needs to be fixed, or a person who is hurting, and we think, “Why doesn’t anyone do anything about this?”  In many cases, I believe, the simple answer is this, no one else even noticed. 

When God allows us to see or hear things that no one else seems to notice, it is an invitation from God to partner with Him.  Sometimes He wants us to take action, other times we are just called to pray, but regardless of what the correct response is, the reality is, once we see or hear it, we are responsible to steward it.

Last summer, our family was headed into San Francisco to explore one of their many local museums.  To add to the fun, we traveled like the locals do, using BART (San Francisco’s version of a subway) and city buses.  On this particular morning, while riding on the BART, I started to hear what sounded like a man sobbing somewhere behind me.  I was hesitant to turn around to look at the man, because I did not want to engage with someone who might be mentally unstable or under the influence of an illegal substance.  I asked my husband, who had a clear view of the man from where he sat, and who also works in mental health to tell me his assessment.  My husband whispered his response, “grief”.  In a BART train car, almost full to capacity, this man was uncontrollably weeping, with deep groans that cut at my heart.  All the while, each passenger, myself included, stared straight ahead, refusing to look at, or even acknowledge this man’s presence.

Finally, I could take it no longer, I had to do something. 

When I turned to see the man, he was much younger than I had imagined.  He was probably around twenty-two years old and he looked like he was a body builder. From his appearance, he looked like he could easily get cast as a bouncer for a posh Hollywood night club or as a body guard. He was young, handsome, and strong, definitely the last person you would have guessed to be so vulnerably broken in a crowd of strangers. 

I approached him and asked him if it would be alright if I prayed for him.  He nodded his head, yes, and so I began praying for him.  I placed my hand on his shoulder and asked for God to bring him peace.  I asked God to intervene in whatever the situation was and for His love to have the final say. 

As I prayed for him, I kept sensing that God was saying that the young man needed a mother’s hug.  I told him that I felt like he needed a mother’s hug. I asked him how long it had been since he had been home to see his mom, and with new tears streaming down his cheeks, he said it had been “too long.”  I asked him if he would accept a mother’s hug from me and he gladly accepted. 

Right there, in a crowded BART car, I stood hugging a stranger with the love of a mother and I told him the things a mother should.  I told him he was strong, I told him life was worth living, and I told him it was time for him to find his way back home. 

Me praying for and hugging this young man, did not suddenly change his situation.  Whatever the source of his grief, those realities were still present, but, he went from a man whose cry had been falling on deaf ears and who had been seemingly invisible in a crowded train, to a man who was both seen and heard. While his situation had not changed, his demeanor had.  It was evident in his face and body language that some of the weight of his grief had lifted.

I share this story because we all have circumstances in our lives in which we are confronted with a need, and often we feel like we are surrounded by people way more qualified than us to handle the problem.  We become frustrated and even angry when no one else seems to even notice.  My husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist, surely he should have been the one to approach the young man, but no, it was me who was filled with compassion, which led me to act.  What this young man needed in the moment was not a trained therapist, he needed a mother’s love. 

“…Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

Luke 10:23-24 (NKJV)

What is it that you see, that tugs on your heart and your emotions?  What do you hear that ignites a fire within you?  We often, myself included, get frustrated and even feel powerless, when we see and hear of problems all round us and seemingly no one is doing anything about it.  We feel powerless, but we are not.  The very fact that we see and hear is in fact a privilege and a blessing. It is an invitation to care, to respond, to act in love in harmony with the author of love, Jesus Christ. 

I am beginning to realize that I am the steward of what I see and hear.  When I take notice of someone or something in a public place, or I hear something that resonates with me, I am beginning to recognize that these moments are little invitations to partner with God to love, heal, and restore the broken and forgotten people, systems, and things of this life. 

I am not accountable for all the problems of this world and neither are you, but we are accountable to steward the things that we see and hear with love. 

My challenge to you, stop worrying about the inaction of others.  Instead, take ownership of what you see and respond in love.

Photo by Arthur Humeau on Unsplash

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A few years ago, my husband’s work transferred him from California’s agricultural Central Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area.  Here in the Bay Area there is a housing shortage causing many families like my own to live in either apartments, townhouses, or to join forces with extended family members and house share.  In our case, we live in a townhouse and unlike most apartments/townhouses in our area, our complex actually has a small front yard for each unit.  When we moved in two years ago, our front yard area was a patch of dirt filled with rusty nails, broken beer bottles and a large cactus.  Definitely not child safe by any means and definitely not inviting.   

When we first moved into the complex, I received permission to pull out the cactus and began designing my own garden.  At first, my plans just involved making it a safe location for my children as well as a space to grow a few flowers or tomato plants, but as we became more familiar with the community within our complex, my plans began to evolve.  My ideas for a simple and safe front yard for my family, soon were promoted into an even better design: a community gathering place. 

Our specific townhouse is unique in that we are the very last unit in a long narrow driveway of townhomes and also because our unit is right next to our complex’s only lawn area.  This makes the front of our unit the safest place for the neighborhood children to ride bikes and play games.  Our location is also the ideal place for promoting community among our neighbors, many of whom are first generation immigrants from both India and Latin America.

I quickly observed that within our complex there was a need for seating near the lawn area.  Often the grandparents would walk their grandchildren down to the front of our unit so the children could play, but they themselves remained standing.  One particular grandmother used a cane, and I just hated to see her standing for long periods of time. It was clear that she was uncomfortable.  When seeing her, I would often go out and offer her a chair, but on days I was away, or busy in the house, not realizing she was out there her only choices were to either keep the children inside, or stand. 

After talking to my husband, I soon began expanding my garden plans to include a seating area as well as planting beds for both flowers and a community vegetable patch. 

We began our landscaping work on a Friday afternoon and even from its conception, my little garden was a community affair.  Two neighborhood boys joined in the fun by asking if they could help.  They, along with our own boys, helped with pulling out weeds, and carefully removing all the broken glass and bottle caps from the ground.  The next day, Saturday the boys returned and helped even further planting lettuce, carrots, and Swiss chard into the newly formed beds.  As we worked, our non-English speaking neighbors would smile with nods of encouragement and appreciation. 

The following morning, we came out of the house to begin loading up for church, but our plans quickly changed.  Many of the neighbors had gathered outside our unit and were enjoying the sunshine and our newly landscaped front garden.  The sense of community, fellowship and friendship was so strong that we knew we needed to stay home from church on this particular morning and spend the morning worshiping in a different way, by loving our neighbors.  This was confirmed a while later when one of our older Punjabi speaking neighbors said to me, with the help of a translator, “This is proof, you don’t need money, all you need is love.”

It took a little bit of time for our neighbors to truly realize that the seating area and garden were available for their use with or without us being present.  I still remember the first time I looked out my bedroom window to see a gathering of some of the grandparents sitting and conversing.  I was so excited.  I wanted to run out and hug each one of them, but considering the fact that there was a language barrier, I decided to just call and celebrate with my husband on the phone instead.  (I did however snap a quick picture from my window. I just couldn’t resist.)

Two years have now passed and the entire neighborhood knows that our yard is their yard. We have been told that when we go away for the weekend, we do not need a security system, because the entire neighborhood is watching and guarding our house.   

Our neighbors have become friends and those friends are like family. 

When we have extended family come visit or we invite friends to come to our home, they always remark that coming to our neighborhood is like being in Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, or like visiting Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Incidentally, these are my two all-time favorite shows. 

Our neighbors were all wonderful and beautiful people long before we landscaped our yard.  Opening up our yard was really a byproduct of us first opening up our hearts.  Never before had we ever lived in such close proximity to people from other countries, cultures, languages, or religions.  Our neighbors have welcomed us into their homes and lives and we have welcomed them into ours. We have learned that love is the international language that supersedes spoken words every time.  

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love which bind them together in perfect unity.”

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV (Emphasis added)

Sharing our yard has not been without a few bumps in the road.  Sometimes chairs and toys are not put away.  Sometimes trash is left behind.  Both a chair and a bike have gone missing, never to be returned.  There are risks.  There are drawbacks, but the benefits are so worth it. 

There was never a booming voice from heaven telling me to share my yard.  It was just a spark of an idea that entered my heart and once there, I just had to see it through.  For most of us, the impact we have on the world is not a result of money, prestige, or popularity, but on whether we live life slow enough to notice a grandma who needs a chair.  I may have provided a chair, but what I have received in return has been life changing.  My heart has been expanded.  My love for others has expanded, and my life is full to overflowing and yet there is always room for more.

My encouragement to you today is to fan the ideas that spark life in your heart.  Love without limit. Create the community your heart craves.  

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Hospitality

By Joy Adams

As someone who loves to be home and to host others in my home, I love to create a peaceful home environment.  I want people to feel so relaxed in my home that they feel comfortable tossing off their shoes, curling up on the couch and losing all sense of time while they sip on tea and converse.  This is my goal, but sometime I get so caught up in trying to create this perfect environment through organization, cleanliness, home décor, good food, etc. that there is no peace, only exhaustion and a partially done to-do list.

The story of Mary and Martha in the Bible challenges me. Martha is busy hosting Jesus and all his disciples in her home and is frustrated that her sister Mary is not helping.  Instead Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet.    When Martha complains to Jesus, hoping that Jesus will send Mary to go help, here is Jesus’ reply:

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

When my husband and I purchased our first home, we had a small gathering of church friends in our new home.  I was being a busy little bee moving from place to place, making sure everything was just right, making sure everyone had what they needed, making sure nothing was left forgotten.  Then, a friend of our family, Greg, came up to me and softly said, “Joy, you need to sit down and join us, you are making your guests feel nervous with all your busyness.”  Wow, what an eye opener.  In my attempt to make everything perfect for my guests, I was actually making them feel uncomfortable.  Wow, thank you Jesus for honest friends who are not afraid to speak hard truths in love.  Greg’s words brought immediate perspective and suddenly all the things that were keeping me hopping about, no longer seemed important.  I washed my hands of what I was doing and truly joined in the fellowship of the evening.

I wonder what Martha did after Jesus told her that Mary had chosen the better thing.  Did she wash her hands of what she was doing and join Mary at Jesus’s feet?  Did she return to the kitchen and continue to carry the burden of her guests like a cross, a cross Jesus did not ask her to carry?  I think unfinished stories like this one in the Bible can actually be quite beautiful.  They allow us, to decide how that story ends. Because let’s face it.  We all have a bit of Mary and Martha in us.

I would love to say that I have never been a busy bee hostess, ever since Greg imparted his words of truth to me, but that would be a lie.  I am a work in progress.  I over plan.  I leave too much for the last minute.  I don’t leave time for the unexpected.  But, I am learning and I am growing.

For the past year, we have hosted a family fellowship group in our home most Fridays.  As part of our fellowship time, we always share a meal together and for many of the nights, I have chosen to make a bulk of the meal as a service of love to the other families. There have been nights where suddenly at the last minute, a few extra people RSVP and suddenly I realize I am short on food.  Oh, no – it is too late to defrost and marinate more chicken! So what do I do? I reach for my freezer and pull out my box of frozen corn dogs from Costco.  Would you know, that every time, those corn dogs are the biggest hit of the night?  As I said, I am learning and I am growing.  I have learned that the conversation is just as lively, the group prayer time just as intimate, and the overall fun had by all is just as great whether I serve grilled salmon with wild rice and mixed greens or whether I serve corn dogs, mac and cheese, and carrot sticks.  My role as a hostess is not to outdo myself every time.  It is to welcome people with love, serve from a place of overflow, and to be my authentic self so that others feel free to just be.

I am not there yet, but I am getting there.  Romans 12:13 (NIV) says:

“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.”

In my case practice does not make perfect, but my practice does fill our home with joy, laughter, and sweet special moments with friends.  Not everyone has a desire to host others in their home.  If you do, realize that this desire is a gift from God to be used to encourage, strengthen, and bring joy to your community.  The world needs people who are willing to invite people into their homes, into their imperfections, and like Mary (and ultimately, I hope Martha too) choose authenticity and intimacy over perfection.

Happy Hosting.

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By Joy Adams

As a former History and American Government teacher I love politics.  But even more than politics, I love people and I love learning about why people do what they do. I enjoy trying to put myself in their shoes and truly seeing something from a new angle.   Frequently, I have friends who have different opinions than mine and I actually enjoy learning not just what their viewpoint is, but understanding the why behind it.  This is not an exercise in debate for me, in fact there is no debate, it is an exercise in compassion.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it”. When I am hearing someone else’s political opinions I am listening not for the weak point in their argument, but I am listening for their heart.

My heart’s desire is for community.  Not in a sense that we all agree on everything, but in a way where we all value each other.

My oldest son is in first grade and at his public elementary school there is an amazing sense of community.  In a recent parent meeting there was debate in regards to school safety.  Some parents argued that the school should have a fence surrounding the entire perimeter of the school and that no one (parents included) should be allowed on campus (before, after, or during school) without first checking into the office.  This would have parents picking up and dropping off their students at the perimeter gate which would remain locked during school hours.  Other parents, argued that having their kids attending a school that was on perpetual lock down creates a prison like feel and would remove the strong sense of safety and community in which the school is known for.  Concern was also raised about the safety of the kids if a dangerous person was to come on campus, how would the children get to safety if they were in fact locked inside with the potential threat?

I left this school safety meeting amazed at the civility and honor in which parents presented their viewpoints.  Their passion for the safety of their children was evident, but their passion was not at the expense of the other parents’ need to also have their ideas and comments heard.  In fact after the meeting, I witnessed two of the more out spoken parents, each with opposing views, approach each other, shake hands, and thank each other for their participation in the meeting.  Wow, to see disagreeing adults act with honor was so refreshing.

I crave to see this type of honor among disagreeing adults in the realm of politics.  Instead I see friends who are intelligent and otherwise loving and kind, name calling politicians, belittling the supporters of such politicians, and completely disregarding any idea that comes from the opposing camp.

I taught high school for nine years and my husband is a Marriage and Family Therapist by trade.   Within these professions being an eternal optimist is the key.  The second we believe that someone is beyond saving, it becomes true, a self-fulfilled prophesy.  Not that the person is truly beyond saving, but that we no longer are granted access to be a part of the transformation.  Because let’s face it, we don’t allow people who lack honor and integrity towards us, to speak into our lives.   If this is true in our own lives, how much more is it true in the lives of those we wish to influence?

In the Bible King Saul, the first king of Israel began his reign with a very high approval rate.  But in the end, his reign was not one of integrity to God or his people, but one of personal vendettas. (1 Samuel 8-31).   On the contrary, King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon was so full of himself that he had a statue made in his image raising 90 feet high and announced immediate judgement (death by blazing furnace) to anyone who would not bow down and worship his image.  He had no fear of God or man and yet he consistently promoted those with integrity and wisdom. By the end of his days, this pagan king was praising the God of heaven.  (Daniel chapters 1-4.)

The lives of King Saul and King Nebuchadnezzar serve as reminders to me that governmental leaders are first and foremost human.  Secondly, their lives remind me that we all have the ability to change for good or for bad.

Hypothetically, if I lived in Bible times and was given the choice to elect King Saul or King Nebuchadnezzar, I would have chosen King Saul, and later would have been disappointed in his performance as king. On the contrary, I don’t think I would have ever chosen King Nebuchadnezzar, but in the end, he consistently choose to surround himself with wise counsel and the same man who once ordered his subjects to worship him, now worshiped and gave credit to the God of the universe.

What is my point?  I have a few:

• We should care more about people than political affiliations.
• We should care more about people than we do platforms.
• We should allow people, including ourselves and our elected officials, the freedom to grow and change, rather than keep ourselves and others imprisoned by past actions, beliefs, and affiliations.
• We should live our lives in such a place of honor that if ever given the chance to have audience with a king, our lives will have built the bridge to allow us the freedom to speak truth in love. Just as Daniel of the Bible did to King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel chapters 1-4).

Are you passionate about the platform closest to your heart? Great! Be passionate in love.

Are you passionate about truth in a world where “fake news” abounds and every broadcast seems to have an agenda? Awesome! Share the truth in love.

Does your background (religion, country of origin, etc.) make many political topics very personal for you?  Beautiful! Share your story with love and allow others to do the same, even if their story brings them to a conclusion different from yours.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

I love politics and I am passionate about my platforms, however I will not use my assumed correctness as an excuse to behave badly.  I will NOT assign Biblical insults to human beings such as “Antichrist” or “Jezebel”.  I will NOT lobby for someone’s financial ruin by taking part in an organized boycott.  And I will NOT break the bonds of friendship over differences of opinion, because I know that relationship and agreement are not synonymous.

No matter what happens November 6, 2018, or even November 3, 2020, please:

…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 *emphasis added

I choose to do politics with honor, compassion and dripping with love. I invite you to join me.

Happy Election Week!

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