trying to keep quiet
as the big day approaches (the election tomorrow), i’ve been struck by the need to just shut up. maybe it’s the overwhelming ads on tv. maybe it’s the blog and facebook reading. maybe it’s the fervor with which i hear so many people speak passionately about the upcoming decision. something is beginning to overwhelm me.
i grew up learning (directly or indirectly) that questions of politics were personal, something to be kept in close conscience, something to let people decide for themselves. while, over time, i’ve begun to abandon that idea for a more open, dialoging approach to making decisions in that area of my life, something over the last few days has led me back into those waters of silence and contemplation.
over the course of these last few months, i’ve spoken in support of one candidate. i like a lot of things i’m hearing him say. but something compells me now to shut up, listen, and watch. something tells me God is working, somehow, in all this mess. so, in hope of being faithful to the leaning of the spirit, i will shut up.
here’s to having the right to vote and finding ears to hear, eyes to see, and a tongue to bite.
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Thanks, Seth. Normally I keep pretty quiet about this sort of thing, because I don’t like being a part of agitated conversations. One vote each. That’s the deal, right? My philosophy was always to stick with my one vote and just encourage others who like those agitated conversations to just use their vote and be okay with whatever circumstance arrives.
This year, a particular VP choice provoked me to be very vocal about how this person is not a representative–but instead a reflection–of how we decide who gets elected nowadays. I was silly to respond in a negative way. I forgot my whole One Vote Each thing.
I appreciate hearing things like “God is working, somehow, in all this mess,” because this whole “God and Country” thing just doesn’t seem to line up for me. God and Nationalism don’t seem to mix.
I’d really love if we could all follow your example (by “we” I especially mean this seemingly bottomless well of babbling heads on 24hr. Cable News) and just shut up and see this thing through. However this thing turns out, we’re going to be hearing outrage for months, and I just think we’d all be happier if we kept the News off and had some wine with friends.
You’re the man, SJT. Keep writing!
Amen.
But in a way the noise encourages me, people who have never voted, would never consider voting, are involved in this election. I understand that it has been incessant and there are so many things in the world that need our attention, but I’m given so much hope to see our country concerned about something important regardless of whether or not we all agree. I am not sure that something so huge, filled with so many different hopes, fears, and dreams could be anything but a mess, but somehow I am still able to find beauty and excitement in the process.