‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…’ I John 4:18
My parents were very influential in grooming my interests. My father planted in me a deep love for sports. My mother instilled in me a life-long commitment to the news, travel, and books. Every Sunday was spent at the Lutheran church in the morning, watching NFL football in the afternoon, and enjoying the CBS news show 60 Minutes in the evening. With our modest blue-collar income, every summer my family took a single week-long trip across America to some historic location that my mother had read about.
For my mother and I election night was a holiday. Every four years, we spent the entire evening eating popcorn and splitting a single 16 oz. soda bottle. I was enamored with the maps of the United States, the suspenseful newscast, and the thrill of political history unfolding right in front of us. We watched the elections with a devotion to America, respect for the Presidency and a love for history.
But one sentiment we did not share was hatred for either political party. I gather we were moderates. Out of respect for one another my siblings and I, to this day, do not discuss who we are voting for (although sometimes it is clear.) Our relationships are more important than where we stand politically.
When I came across my mother crying in our basement TV room, watching Nixon’s departure from the White House that August morning in 1974, her tears were for America. My mother’s fear was “she didn’t know what was going to happen to America.” This week, many of us share that fear.
During Nixon’s resignation speech, out of respect for the country, Nixon publicly admitted he had lost the support of the congress, that he deeply regretted any wrongs or injuries he had caused, and he hoped that “America could start the process of healing that was so needed.” Oh, we need that sentiment today.
Dear America, with all my heart I plead with you. Stop hating.
The battle for our nation is not with the partisan news stories. As Jason Anderson said, “A huge game of Red Rover with two sides yelling, and no one coming over.” The strategy of divisive politics is obvious. Fear is the easiest thing to sell. Yet fear breeds hate. The only antidote to hate is love. We must find our way out of the minefield and learn how to not destroy our nation overreacting to divisive lies.
The battle for America is in the heart of every citizen. And that is exactly where the love of God can make all the difference. Jesus was kind, teaching us to treat our neighbors as ourselves. Our democracy is complicated, but it is a blessing. We have so much in common, and we have so much to lose. Our job is to fact-check, vote and then love.