Piloting Faith: When election votes are close...

A Word for the Day...

When we cast our votes for elected officials, in politics or church, they always seem close these days. Candidates win by small percentages instead of sweeping landslides. Our first instinct might be to judge the leadership of the person being elected. We might say, “He isn’t a good leader because he didn’t win by an overwhelming margin.” Or “There must be something wrong with her because she isn’t supported by more people.” If the margins are close, the system itself becomes suspect. Did every vote count? Can we trust those overseeing the vote to ensure the process is sound?

These are predictable symptoms of a polarized, disconnected culture.

Voting is not just about the person being elected; it’s about the person casting the vote. We are increasingly driven by personal agendas, conditional trust, and single-issue loyalty.

• You are a man, and I want to elect a woman.

• You are white, and I want someone of color.

• You are pro-choice, and I am pro-life.

The antidote to this polarization is in listening to each others' stories until we begin to understand the others' perspective. It's listening - deeply - that allows us to hear what stands between us and reveals what can bring us back together. It's slow, hard work. Listening grants speaking. Listening ultimately grants leading.

My mentor used to tell me, "Cameron, God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason. Listen up." That advice has always served me well.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God,

Your kin-dom is so different from what is valued in my world.

We worship riches and fame and power, and flashy shows of strength, but you say those advantages have no value in your kin-dom. You came as a servant, and call us to serve and honor others. You say that in our weakness, we discover our own power - power that comes from you.

We prize physical beauty, but the beauty that matters to you comes from inside. It shows up best in acts of kindness, in living with courage, integrity, and humility.

We praise the self. We live as though the universe revolves around our wants and needs, our potential, our success. But you came to radically change our worldview. You showed us how to honor our humanity and find our freedom in you.

Renew my vision of a sacred world, Lord, and help me to seek it every day. Make my vision clear. Teach me to care for the things of Love and the ways of Love over everything that's valued in the kin-dom of this world.

- (adapted from The Prayer Wheel by Patton Dodd, Jana Riess and David Van Biema)