God Doesn't Need My Vote

Sitting in church, I listened intently. My ears were hearing words from the pulpit, but I was pondering the ones in my head. The passage spoken about came from the writing of the Apostle Paul as he was encouraging the church in town of Philippi. He closes his letter by reminding the people to focus on things that matter: being true, virtuous, and honorable in word and deed. In practicing these things, "the God of peace shall be with you." Yet even more importantly, Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he had faced (Philippians 4: 8-11). No matter what, contentment ruled his heart . . .

So I wondered, where was all this fear and projected negativity coming from? Words formed as a plea to make a point of voting "Biblical Values" this year. Yet, to me it was ironic to preach on the Biblical value of contentment and still voice such discontentment with our present circumstances. To me it seems that walking by faith has somehow been juxtaposed into walking by a political party platform. I couldn't help but think of Daniel's response with a government that was totally opposite of what he believed and certainly did not have regard for his God. Daniel writes, "And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him," (Daniel 11:1). Wow, what an awesome response to your leader who took your people captive! When you truly believe that in all things, God is at work, contentment rules. That is what frees you up to even serve and encourage your "enemy" or "political foe."

As I rode up the hill today, I looked up and saw the soaring hawk. It has such a wide wing span, it can almost fool you into thinking it's a small plane hovering. But I know its yellow brown circles of insignia that lie on the underside of each long wing. Peacefully, it soared, not evening flapping a wing for more than a few seconds in between each circle it made in the breeze. The hawk didn't buck the wind, he chose to glide with what was placed before him. He wasn't squawking that it wasn't in the exact direction he wanted to go. He just soared on, taking advantage of the strength he gained with that particular wind. . .

With purpose I am taking a different road. I won't be shoved into the crowd that is so myopic that it has lost its way. I am choosing contentment, regardless of my circumstances. And for those of you who wonder, God doesn't need my vote!

"Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: . . . He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them."

(Psalm 2: 1-4)

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