Politics and political discussions these days are not for the faint of heart. Like many families and groups of friends, I have friends and family on both sides of the American political equation. I have learned, sometimes the hard way, that I do not have what it takes to engage in the political debate this year.
In my personal life, my emotions are already spent. I am mourning the death of my best friend and dearest love – my husband – and having to relearn how to navigate the world on my own. I am the youngest of my siblings, yet the only one of us without a spouse.
I have been through tough days before. I don’t have to get permission from anyone on how I think, where I get my information, or how I choose to vote. In the end, it seems that for myself, there are two things I have to measure before casting my votes this fall.
- Am I confident in my choices?
- Can I make those choices in good conscience as a faithful Christian?
Indeed, decisions, particularly political ones, are heavily charged in this Presidential Election year in the United States of America. I think it very much in the realm of possibility to believe that we may one day be called to give our maker account for even things such as these.