Merry Election

Election Day reminds me of Christmas Eve. I was thinking of writing this yesterday as it would have been the eve of the big day, but for me, much of the built up excitement is lived out on Election Day and Christmas Eve. Election Day is the final day of preparation and busyness before history is made. We might know the results of this presidential election the moment the booths close, but in all reality, nothing really sinks in until the next day. The baby is not born until midnight though we know he’s coming. The voting is done, staying up late watching electoral votes being added by sophisticated machines and the country being colored red and blue on any news program of choice comes to a close, and celebrations and/or moments of mourning die off. Then we wake up the next morning, knowing that conversations and more celebrating/mourning will happen just like presents and ham dinner come on Christmas Day. But somehow the midnight hour makes the excitement and anticipation drizzle into content feelings of life as normal. A thanksgiving is given- it’s over, the advertisements are gone, the decision has been made. The baby is born. So now it’s time to live in the reality of that miracle. May the excitement of Election Day move us to live this day and everyday as an incarnation of our convictions with which we voted.