On the Way to Sunday .... Counting the Days

In the coming days, all who are registered to vote in this country will have the opportunity to go to the polls to vote.  We should keep in mind this piece of wisdom from John Wesley, the 18th-century Anglican preacher and founder of Methodism:

            I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them,

            1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy:

            2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And,

            3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.

A lot of quotes attributed to John Wesley are not actually from him, but this one actually is! Wesley wrote it this in his journal on October 6, 1774 in reference to the British Parliamentary elections. 

FYI: Prime Minister Lord Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, and his party defeated the Whigs and Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, in the election of 1774.

With Wesley’s thought in mind, here are a few things to consider this week:

• Before you vote, spend time in prayer, not only reflecting on whom you should vote for but also asking God to guide your words, attitudes, and actions toward those with whom you disagree.
• Take time to consider the candidates you won’t be voting for. Reflect on their good qualities and reasons why other people will vote for them. Don’t assume the worst about opposing candidates and their supporters.
• Resist any urges to write nasty, anonymous comments about opposing candidates on the internet.  If your candidate loses, don’t write ridiculous things like “This is the end of America as we know it” or accuse the winning party of cheating.
• Pray for the well-being of the nation and the world, regardless of which candidates emerge victorious on November 6.
• Remember that the elected leaders represent you, regardless of whether you voted for them. Let these people know what issues matter to you and why. Work with the elected officials for the benefit of all people, and particularly those whom Jesus called the “least of these.”

Counting the days 'til this Election Season is over.

See you at the polls or better yet … see you at church on Sunday.