I hear a lot about so-called angry voters this year and frankly I either have not met them or have been insensitive to them so that I did not notice their seething or the steam coming out of their nostrils.

Angry?

Anger is not a primary emotion. It comes from fear which is a darned poor motivation to nurture. It is an even worse basis for decision making – especially for people about which it is said, "perfect love casteth out all fear," and to whom it is often said, "fear not."

Perfect love. I have not fully appropriated it yet, but it is available to me by faith. Sometimes I get afraid – fearful that unwise people will be placed in positions of great responsibility, fearful of change, fearful that fear will rule over good thinking.

But then, I remember to trust in the Lord with all my heart. I remember to turn the dial in my own thinking. I remember that I am only, ultimately responsible for my own choices and that I can choose faith, hope, and love.

Faith, hope, and love abide and the greatest is love.

Jesus said that loving God and loving our neighbors was our entire duty in fulfilling the law. Every law that was worth anything (God's for instance), hung on those two.

There is really not much room for anger in that system and those who spend all of their time prodding people to be angry and act on anger in their decision making are doing no one favors.

Critical thinking is to be applauded. Criticism can be a part of that. Dissatisfaction is often legitimate. The urge for change is natural. It can also be loving. Conservatism grounds us. Liberalism challenges us. Moderation balances us. There is a place for all sorts of thinking as long as it really is thinking.

I voted as soon a I received my ballot in the mail and mailed it back. I have been immune to all the silliness around me … but still, troubled by the vitriolic utterances and yelling contests.

I vote every day on the choices presented to me. More and more, every day, I strive to act, not in fear and anger, but in faith, hope, and love – especially love.

It is liberating and it is godly and it is that for which I strive with God's  help.

I don't know how you should vote on anything. I do think you should vote intelligently, rationally, and in accordance with your own values, but I also think you might consider consciously and conscientiously taking the longest and sharpest view possible through the lenses of faith and hope and, especially, love.

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…… and while you are at it …..

        Humor helps too!

                Enjoy this tidbit:

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Afterthought

Actually, it is time for some of us to graduate, with or without the pomp because our circumstances demand it.

We are old enough.

We've had enough lessons.

We've had enough breaks. It is time to grow up and take responsibility for our lives and our world.

Enough of our childishness and pettiness.

Start marching with the graduating class.

Sir Edward Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No.1