Election night plus 7

Back in February I slipped out one night to attend the Democratic Caucaus for Fremont County.

In this deeply conservative region I knew that I was attending a minority party event. On that night I figured there would be about ten or twelve, maybe the "Big Wig" Democratic Party leadership for the county. In short, I expected very few people but this was were I felt I had to be. In fact I saw a few familiar faces from around the county and was very surprised to see so many young faces turn out for the event.

I was delighted to hear the charged enthusiasm for the candidates. Even though I've always liked Hillary, and still believe her to be a dynamic force, something about the idea of voting for the up and coming Senator from Illinois, now our President Elect felt absolutely correct.

And at the end of the night, I traveled back home up that snowy road to Ashton, turned into my driveway and pulled the car into the garage at the parsonage. No signs in my yard, no bumper stickers, and no buttons to declare my choice of candidate. Everything very hush hush so as to avoid offending anyone in the congregation. Ah, the life of pastor. How different from the years when I worked as a volunteer in campaign headquarters.

Other than sending one small contribution to the campaign I've said very little out loud. I played it neutral because I felt it the best way to serve the congregation and community. No need to create any reason discontent.

Ten days before the election I stepped into the County Clerk's office at Fremont county and requested an absentee ballot. My mind was already set on who I would vote for. there was no need to hang around until the last minute. It was time to "get 'er done."

It's been a week since I sat at this very screen and watched the results coming in. My eyes streamed with tears as I read the results. I remembered the hatred of some past generations in my own lineage toward anyone of color and began to feel real pride in the change in America.
Can America ever elect a black man? Yes we can!

We can make history once again in America.

In 2002 our present administration kept calling for "regime change."

For the first time in years, I can once again say, I'm truly proud to be an American.

Regime change is in progress at this very moment the way it should come about.

I pray for peace in the Islamic dominant nations of the world, just as I pray for peace in America.

I pray for renewed relations abroad that will reestablish respect for our differences in faiths and traditions. I pray for the leaders of all nations as well as our president elect as he works to form his new administration.

Tonight a few concerned citizens are meeting in the community center of Ashton discussing poverty in our community in a Idaho Horizons Study Circle. That meeting followed another meeting of an even smaller number of people who have been responding to concerns for the welfare of our neighbors in the community, The SHARE Network, bringing out to main street a Community Food Pantry. The connections of needs and possbile solutions are generating lots of ideas. The cross-polination of possiblity thinking is crystalizing into some great enthusiastic activism.

So, while the nation's economy looks dismal, it is encouraging to see people working together for the betterment of our community. The Northwest Area Foundation Horizons III Grant is presenting us with an awesome opportunity for community development.

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 suggests that two things are always going to exist.
First, there will always be people in need. Second, God expects us to be concerned about those neighbors; not taking advantage of them in their dire situation. Lord, grant the participants of these discussions with wisdom, and enthusiasm. Help us as we explore the edges of our differences, to be respectful. May we each grow in our understanding of the diversity of causes of poverty and may we approach these issues with great compassion and tenderness.