Election Day

It was Election Day.
Schools were closed, since many of the buildings are also polling places.
My husband was away on business.
He had voted by absentee ballot.

I went to the polling place around lunchtime.
I brought a sample ballot with me.
I also had some other papers to review in the voting booth.
In our little town, there is usually no waiting in line.

I knew some of the volunteers.
I went up and gave my name, as a formality.
I was moved down the table, as the woman announced my name and spelled it as well.
That next person handed me a folder with the actual ballot inside.

I went to one of the portable voting booths.
I laid all my things down to the side.
I began.
There is always a sense of nervousness that I will not fill in the little circle completely.

After making sure my selections were the ones I wanted, I gathered my things.
I put the ballot in the folder.
I walked to the voting machine where my ballot would be inserted and counted.
I waited my turn, making sure I ripped the tab at the bottom, which was proof that I voted.

The volunteer, who was standing at the machine, was so pleasant.
He was making small talk with each voter.
He said the same thing to everyone.
I hear that we’re going to do this again next year.

Each person responded differently to him.
Most said, Me, too! See you next year.
Some said nothing in response.
However, the man in front of me made me pay close attention.

He was an older gentleman.
He walked slow and purposeful.
He was by himself.
He looked at the volunteer at the voting machine as he talked to him.

I hear that we’re going to do this again next year.
So, I guess I’ll see you then, the volunteer continued.
I have been voting for over 60 years, the older gentleman said.
Do you know I only missed voting one time in my entire life? He remarked.

Before the volunteer could respond to that statement, the older gentleman spoke again.
Do you know why I missed voting that year? The older gentleman asked.
The volunteer smiled and waited for the man to tell him.
I was serving in Vietnam, the older gentleman said proudly.

Thank you for your service, sir, the volunteer said to him.
It was my privilege, the older gentleman said.
It is a privilege to vote, too, but that year I had to miss, he said as if he needed to explain.
I wanted to thank him as well, but I was standing too far back from him.

I watched him as he walked towards the door to the parking lot.
I looked at the volunteer.
The volunteer was around my age, give or take a few years.
He was wearing a baseball cap; a long ponytail was sticking out of his hat.

I hear that we’re going to do this again next year, the volunteer said to me.
I hear that, too, I answered.
I handed my folder to the volunteer and placed my ballot in the machine.
You seem to know what you’re doing, the volunteer said to me.

I thought about the older gentleman as I left.
I was trying to remember how many years I have voted.
I know there were years I missed.
I know that when I turned 18 years old, I was a bit nonchalant about voting.

My aunt used to tell me how important it was to vote.
I don’t know all the candidates, I would say as if that was an excuse.
You are a smart young woman, my aunt would say, read about them.
Without imposing her views on me, she told me ways to learn about the candidates.

Those were the days of newspapers and candidates going door to door.
It is so much easier today with the Internet at our fingertips.
Yet, there is still apathy when it comes to voting.
There is a lack of excitement in the process among young people.

Are they disillusioned?
Do they see the ugliness of politics?
Do they notice the lack of civility in the opposing candidates?
Do they think their vote matters?

How I wish the pendulum could swing the other way and civility was the order of the day.
How I wish integrity and kindness were the marks of every candidate’s character.
How I wish we could remember to debate with kindness and not resort to name calling.
How I wish we could all agree to disagree.

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)

God is Sovereign.
Always.
Not just when our political party is in power.
Not just when our government officials think like we do.

God has raised up kings in the past who we would question if they were in power today.
God raised them up for a reason.
Sometimes, bad leaders will cause people to turn to God in prayer and supplication.
Even the worst leaders are used by God in ways that may not be clear to us.

We need to give our children (and ourselves) a Kingdom perspective.
God is in control, and not only when good people are in power.
The perspective of the Vietnam veteran was correct.
He voted in all but one election because it is his duty.

We don’t talk about duty as much as we should.
Duty is a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility.
It is our responsibility, not the responsibility of someone else.
The veteran knows that and lives by that principle.

He is an honorable man, who takes duty seriously.
He is a role model.
He is an example.
He is a challenge for us all.