Presidential Election 2016

Its November 8, 2016. It’s a big day in US history…every Presidential Election is a big day in America if I am being honest, but something happened this time when I went through the line to vote…something unexpected. A little back story that gets me where I am today…last Friday I went to see the movie Hacksaw Ridge with my husband…it’s a movie on the life of an amazing man, Desmond T. Doss. You can find more on his life here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Doss. 

He became the first and only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II. Enlisting voluntarily in April 1942,[4] Doss refused to kill an enemy soldier or carry a weapon (pistol) into combat because of his personal beliefs as a Seventh-day Adventist. He then saved the lives of over 75 infantrymen he was serving with during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945; at the same time he was adhering to his religious convictions. 

I don’t know about you, but that hit me hard. I walked out of that movie, (I know it’s a movie, but they did a darn good job at making it feel real!) but I just could not stop the tears from flowing. I don’t know if it was because Mr. Doss was from the city I’ve spent the last 17 years of my life in, or if it was because I was so touched, inspired, in awe of this man and what he did, or because of his conviction to the Lord…I’m sure it was all of that combined, but wow what a legacy he left! I just had a greater appreciation for what our service men and women go through for OUR freedom here in the States. The stakes of voting seemed a lot higher today. 

As I stood in the line, I was looking at all of the different people that were in that line, all different ages, races, genders, backgrounds, religious views….it was a mosaic of people. All of them were standing in the line wanting to express their freedom and express their voice by placing their vote in the ballot box. It was just emotional for me, given what I had just been reminded of Friday. The price people paid for our freedom was just super humbling.  After I walked past the line of people back out to my car to head to work, it was as if I was walking in slow motion. Looking in the eyes of people I was passing; know they all have souls, and lives they live. Not all of them agree with me, not all of them share the same convictions I do, but all of them were there because of our freedom to be there. As I sat down in my car I was overcome with emotion and just started weeping. Never in my adult life have I been emotional about an election, let alone cried after voting! I am not sure where the emotion was coming from; gratitude for the people who paid the price for me, or nervousness about the state of our country in the year 2016, but what happened next was what calmed my soul. 

I turned on the radio and this song by All Sons and Daughters was on: https://youtu.be/uHz0w-HG4iU

The lyrics are: 

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore
Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore

Every heart that is broken
Great are You, Lord

All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord

And through my tears I sang, “So we pour out our praise to You only….” Its all for Jesus anyway.

So if your soul is at unrest let’s remember what Romans 13:1 says, “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.” 

No matter the outcome of this election, God is still God & He is still on the Throne….and he still will be November 9, 2016 too! So thankful for that!