Election Day 2016: a follow-up

It’s a gloomy day. A foreboding, gloomy day. That line belongs out of a Bronte sister novel or some kind of novel (the kind with murders and elopements). Perhaps it is foreboding because of the election. In reality  it’s just another day in The Woodlands, Texas and the sun is probably shining elsewhere. Who knows? 

There is a strange feeling in the atmosphere. It’s of anticipation and slight dread and overall peace combined. I have had many, many people talk to me about this election today at work. All agree that each candidate is unsuitable and the unspoken question is: what happens next? And who would we consider suitable?

I have a theory and it partially explains why people are so unwilling to commit themselves to either candidate. This immense polarization between candidates leaves polite people at a standstill. We all have our opinions, we all voted for someone (some of us with a secret ballot, unwilling to commit themselves – I am one of these) yet none of us want to discuss anything. We are all noncommittally taking, or rather, not taking, a position in this election, unwilling to be put in either camp. It’s because none of us want to be seen as something we are not. We don’t want to be seen as another cog in the Democrat-wheel, lurking in the dank political shadows where politicians bribe each other and greed takes over, yet we don’t want to be tarred with the Donald Trump brush that shouts and screams and doesn’t make a lot of sense. So we are just staying quiet. We’re voting, but staying quiet.

I wonder what would have happened if there had been a suitable candidate this year? Would we have voted for him or her? Would we be as willing to keep silent about our opinions?

Tonight I will go to church and learn more about Jesus and His will and plan for my life. I don’t think it will have to do anything with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton – and just a thought, but how horrible would it be if it did? I’m so glad our lives can rise above politics and political events. God’s stories are far greater than ours.

In the end I’m reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Bible: “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” It’s a small verse but it says a great deal.

Happy Election Day! In spite of.