On this day, we honor those who fought and died for our freedom. Of course, we honor all of our veterans. Today,
however, I want to focus on our part in the process.
As a child, I was taught the value of citizenship. It was a privilege to
vote and participate in the process. Where I grew up, the schools were used as
polling places. My parents and I would walk there, and they'd each take a turn
voting. A big deal? You bet it was.
It's still a big deal. It horrifies me when I hear people say they won't
vote for whatever reason. By not voting, people are making a choice whether
they like it or not. They're giving one candidate an advantage over another.
I also see what I call, "personality wars." Instead of addressing
issues, people are looking at which candidate wows them with their rhetoric or
destroys the other people in the race with their tongues.
How do I decide who to vote for? Here are the main things:
1.
I pray God will help me sort
through the noise and get to the heart of what each candidate truly believes.
2.
I educate myself on the records of
those running for office. Do they respect the Constitution and our freedoms? Do
they pledge to uphold the Constitution or do they seek to destroy or ignore it?
3.
History teaches us many lessons.
Winston Churchill kept a positive attitude during the dark days of World War
II. I've read about many who prayed and saw the tide turn in favor of freedom.
Fear is one of our greatest enemies. It's time for believers to get on their
knees and pray for our country like they never have before. God is greater than
any circumstance. If we first turn our hearts back to Him and then seek His intervention
in our nation, we'll see the situation turn around.
The one thing that's not a viable option - doing nothing.
Writers and readers:
Freedom of
speech, religion, etc. have a direct impact on our ability to write and express
our views. Please keep the comments civil and share your thoughts.
Photo Credit: Mark Alan
