Yep, it’s that time again. Every four years the Presidential
politics rise up around our nation and especially around the Donovan house.
How about you?
I’m daring to talk about politics today because if your
house is anything like mine, politics is a deep chasm of which my husband and I
stand on opposite sides. I’m not sure if you will agree with what I have to say
but if you disagree, that’s okay, just do so with love.
You will understand the significance of this story if I set
a tiny bit of background before you. Most of you know I’ve been married twenty
years. I grew up in a conservative place, Salt Lake City and was raised in an
Evangelical home. My husband, well he did not. He grew up in a home without any
kind of faith training and where “religion” was often mocked. He attended the
University of California, Berkeley.
Need I say more?
Truly we are the ultimate odd couple. And our differences in
our beliefs come bellowing to the front and center every four years when it’s
time to elect a president. Now that I’ve walked this unequally yoked marriage
for many years I have gained some perspective when it comes to politics in our
mismatched home.
What I find fascinating is how passionate I am about my
beliefs.
What I find fascinating is how passionate my husband is
about his beliefs.
Isn’t it curious that in order for candidates to obtain
votes they need to be “right.” And when a candidate is “right about something”
that makes the other guy automatically wrong. Hmmmmm, and in this paradigm, argument
develops in the political theater and also at home. Which so bugs me. Perhaps
neither guy is right or wrong. But it seems to me this effort makes for a lot
of disagreeing on the airwaves, in the papers, and in our house.
But this year something happened to change all that within
the Donovan Clan. I’ve realized a few things and I want to share them with you.
It is my hope that someone, even just one person, will read this today and save
themselves years of frustration and quarrelling with your spouse.
Firstly, I just stopped. I’ve learned over 20 years of
marriage that becoming a talking head and spewing every kind of argument at my
husband to convince him of his error in thinking (grin)….. DOES NOT WORK. It’s
the biggest waste of time. So I just stopped talking.
What does that look like? Well our arguments always erupt
over the national news broadcast. One of us (me) would offer free commentary during
a political story or a controversial social issue – )read gay marriage, abortion, striking prayer from
football games, the Ten Commandments, etc.) My observations always required a
return volley of words and in the early years those words hit my heart like
bullets. Ouch!
What is astonishing to me is this year, all this political
stuff just ceased to matter to me. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the
political process and we should vote. But, I’ve stopped watching all the news
stories covering the candidates. I’ve read enough to allow me to cast an
informed and prayerful vote. But, what a wonderful fall season I have enjoyed
because I simply choose to miss the first half of the news broadcast.
What peace, what joy. And now what is truly funny to me is
that when I’m unable to watch the news because of another commitment, my husband
will record the news for me. AND he only saves the personal interest stories at
the end of the broadcast. He will even tell me, “There is a great story you
will want to see tonight.” And he has the recording queued up for my viewing
where he has skipped all the political stories and we start watching together
the rest of the news.
I LOVE it!!!
Now, I’m just peeved I didn’t stop watching all those
talking heads a long time ago.
Secondly, I recognized a couple of things about politics.
Down deep inside what was really going on in me was that I was defending God,
His Holy Word and actually I was defending my self-worth.
What has truly been profound in this political season is
that finally this blonde-brained, girl recognizes just how truly powerful,
Omniscient, and how utterly BIG is our God. He transcends the mundane political
process and likely grieves that the world wastes so much time and money on all
of it.
Jesus does not need my defense; He is completely capable of
defending Himself, thank you very much.
Politics cease to matter when you look fully into the face of
Christ. When you release your need to be validated, to be seen and heard and
stand fully in the identity of Christ, politics are meaningless.
Jesus would likely be neither a Republican nor Democrat. He
IS the Savior of the World. So what would Jesus want from me in this political
season? The same thing He always wants.
I think He would say something like this, “Reveal me to
others. Show them my love by providing for their needs, one person at a time. Reach
out and tell someone there is real hope. Show the world your love for me
through your radical obedience. Be my advocate.”
Be His advocate. Serving people out of the love for Jesus
absolutely dumbfounds unbelievers. Caring for the physical needs of people opens
up hearts and souls to hear the Gospel. Love, forgiveness, grace and empathy command
more power and influence than the office of the President.
Our Kingdom is not of this world.
It’s the crazy, unexplainable, supernatural love within us
that confounds the skeptics and brings great honor and glory to our Lord.
So relax, God’s got this. He already knows who wins in
November. So, let the talking heads roar and the political machine grind but
you, my friends, YOU, the beloved of the Most High God can truly make an impact
on this world….
Be His advocate.
Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Lynn
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