The morning after

The commercials are done. The speeches are over. The votes have been cast.

History has yet to determine what this election means for our nation. In a little over two months, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. Then we will see what the future holds.

While I fundamentally disagree with much of Obama's philosophy and many of his approaches to the role of government, I can't deny the historic relevance of this election. While I hope that those who voted, voted for the candidate's platform, not his race, I know that for some that is not true.

Regardless of how you voted and why you voted that way, it's time for our nation to display the spirit of unity that has held us together for over two centuries. This nation has suffered through many challenging times, but the beauty of our country is the peaceful change in leadership that has helped make us who we are.

I will still stand up for what I believe is the best way for our government to function. Just like in the church, unity does not mean everyone agrees. Unity means that everyone stands for one purpose greater than themselves. Whether we are talking about the Kingdom of Heaven or the United States of America, this message rings true. When we can look beyond ourselves to the greater good, we can overcome.

Today is a new day in America. We have elected to office a man who would have likely served on a plantation, not had a right to vote, and only counted as 3/5 of a person earlier in our nation's history. Agree or disagree with his style of governing, this is a historic day in our nation's history.

On the other hand, I hope that we don't let the significance of this moment keep us from engaging in serious dialogue in the days ahead. Some would use the historic nature of this election as a buffer to dispel disagreement and silence dissent. To me, that would discount the importance of this moment.

As with most things in life, we must always seek a balance between sensitivity and substance. We must strive to find ways to work together while remaining true to our principles. It is of the utmost importance that as we move into the future, we start from our common ground and engage in serious dialogue about the issues at hand. This is how we can mature and seek what is best.

While I am talking about our country, I believe the same is true with the church. We can disagree about the way we "do church" and the methods we use to engage our mission, but we must start with Christ as our foundation, our cornerstone, and our starting point. From there we can embark on our mission that will call us to change the world and bring the Kingdom of God to the lives around us.

shine!
Jason