I originally drafted this post as a normal Five on Friday post. I wrote out some updates on how I’m rewatching Gilmore Girls in anticipation of the reunion season coming out, how I’m loving Ann Voskamp’s new book, how we got a crazy hail storm last week and Jordan’s car got a ton of dents. I wanted to write one last point about some thoughts and reflections on the election, but that one paragraph became three paragraphs became a whooole lot of thoughts, and I felt like that was really all I could respectfully share this week. So if you want to see pictures of our hail damage and my cute baby boy, maybe tune back in next week. If you’re as confused by this election as I am and having just as many jumbled, convicting thoughts, keep reading.
My heart for this blog has always been that it be a place where people can vulnerably share their stories and their hurts, and this is a little picture of where I’ve been in my quiet times and conversations with people this week.
Reflecting On This Election
Woof. What a heavy week. I don’t even really know how to begin to process what happened. I’ve never been super invested in politics, but this past year I’ve seen what an impact it can have on our daily lives and the lives of so many people we love. I feel so sad for the choice our country made and how devastating it is for so many people who feel like their identities are threatened and diminished. I am so confused and if I’m honest, angry, at the church and how it has supported such a racist, xenophobic, hate-spewing candidate who seems to be against so much of what Jesus stands for.
This week, I’m reflecting a lot on what it means to stand for life as a Christian – not just the lives of babies before they’re born, but for the lives of those babies as they grow, for the needs of their moms and dads as they take care of them, for the needs of so many groups in our world who face daily discrimination and hate while the followers of Jesus complain that we are somehow being persecuted for our faith because the Starbucks cups aren’t Christmasy enough.
I’m trying to understand the people I know and love who follow Jesus and believe that the very, very tiny chance of changing legislation about the abortion issue was worth supporting a candidate who promises devastating changes for so many groups of people. Why are Christians fighting for the lives of unborn babies but not the lives and dignity of people of color, people with different sexual orientations, people who have fled dangerous situations in their home countries and come to us looking for hope? Who decides that one voiceless, marginalized group is more worthy of our support than another?
This election has made me feel lost, confused, and disappointed, both in myself and in the church as a whole. I want to understand the passions of my fellow Christians and I want to understand the pain and frustrations of the people who believed that Trump was their only hope to see change. I want to listen with empathy to the pain and fear of people for whom a Trump presidency poses a real threat (because as a white, Christian woman my privilege makes a Trump presidency not quite so terrifying). I want to understand where my friends and neighbors come from without passing judgment, but my heart has felt so heavy and confused this week and it’s been hard to listen to it all without getting overwhelmed.
Maybe most importantly, I want to examine where I’m failing to stand up personally for the marginalized groups in our country. Yes, I can use my small social media platform to give voice to their pain, but what am I really doing to fight for change? I’ve felt so convicted this week that I share articles and thoughts about racism, immigration issues, and so much more, but I’m really not doing anything to fight for change. I want to prayerfully consider how I can use my gifts to come alongside my brothers and sisters of other races and religions and then actually get out there and DO something, even if it seems small in the face of systemic challenges that have endured for centuries.
In the midst of all these thoughts and fears and questions, I’m trying to cling to the reminders that our world keeps on moving and there are still people to love and reasons for hope. When the pain of this election and what it says about our country stings like hell, I know that there is still hope and God will continue to work to redeem us and draw us deeper into His heart and community with one another. He is always good and He can use all things for good, even when the world feels dark.
So if you need me this weekend and the next few weeks, I’ll be at home – reflecting on how to move forward and be change instead of just talking about it, loving on this sweet kiddo and my family, and trying to cling to goodness and joy as I wrestle with big questions of faith, politics, and country. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t know that I ever will, but I hope I never stop wrestling, asking questions, and using my voice, my vote, and my platform to fight for people who need it.
Thanks for reading that loooooong reflection on politics that doesn’t really fit in with my normal posts but still felt like it needed to be shared. I’m grateful for you all and thinking of/praying for you as you process what this election means for you, whether it is a celebration of changes you’ve hoped for or a new reality you fear. We’re all in this together and I’d love to walk through all this with you.
I love your heart and your words. I’m standing right there too. Let’s do this. ?
Thanks, Leigh! Grateful for you!
Lauren recently posted…How We’re Creating Meaningful Family Traditions For Our First Holiday Season As Parents
To all of the above – yes! I won’t lie when I saw I am floundering. To see all of this unfold, especially in my friends & family has messed me up. Glad to know I’m not the only questioning parts of the church & their current stance. Thanks for all of this!
Sarah, I’ve loved reading everything you share on FB and Twitter…so many good, thought-provoking article. I’m glad we can be wrestling with all this together!
Lauren recently posted…How We’re Creating Meaningful Family Traditions For Our First Holiday Season As Parents
I’m so with you. “Why are Christians fighting for the lives of unborn babies but not the lives and dignity of people of color, people with different sexual orientations, people who have fled dangerous situations in their home countries and come to us looking for hope? ” THIS FOREVER.
I’m standing in solidarity with you and with the voiceless people of this country who are scared right now.
Thanks, Grady. It’s such a hard thing to wrestle with because I think all of those issues are important. It just makes me sad to see people choose one issue at the expense of so many others! Thanks for being with me in all this!
Lauren recently posted…How We’re Creating Meaningful Family Traditions For Our First Holiday Season As Parents
I’m going to say this as gently as I can…this post was pretty judgemental. He is NOT a racist, and if you think he is I think you should take another look at where your news is coming from. Those of us who voted for him don’t think he is any of these horrible things you are saying…or we wouldn’t have voted for him. And yes, we do care deeply about the unborn, but we also care deeply about every person in this country. It is insulting to imply that we don’t care about the lives of all Americans just because we have a different opinion than you about how to go about helping them.
Callie recently posted…Larger-Then-Life Lara (A Middle-Grade Book Review)
Thanks for reading, Callie! You know I love your heart and your blog, but I just have to disagree with you on this one. Trump has continually said and done things that are incredibly hurtful to both the black community and many other groups in our country. I don’t doubt that your support from him comes from a place of desiring good for all people – that’s why I said at one point I really do want to understand why Trump supporters voted the way they did and believe that Trump is the best option for the changes they want to see.
But I believe it is very hurtful to many groups to deny the racism in his comments, his actions, and his history. He has consistently made comments (and in the past, shown thrown his actions) that he is highly racist and has said many things hurtful and threatening to people of color, to immigrants, to Muslims, and so many other groups. To me, the argument that he’s not racist just doesn’t make sense. If he isn’t racist, what would be considered racist? What would he have to do to deserve that title?
I am grateful for your thoughtful response, as always! I love that you intentionally think through these things and seek to make choices that you believe will benefit all people!
I am not going to get into a big discussion with you here, and of course he has said some things in a questionable way about illegal immigrants that I can see how you would construe that way (but actually statistics show that half of Hispanics in this country agree with his position on immigration), but as for some of the other groups you mentioned I have to sharply disagree. I really don’t know what actions you are referring to at all, and with words, context is king. He reached out to the black community in particular and they voted for him in bigger numbers than Romney in ’12, which I seriously doubt would have happened if any of those voters thought he was a racist. If you truly want to understand where his voters are coming from, I would first take a look at Wikileaks and see how AWFUL the alternative was, and then re-evaluate your news sources, because spin is everything these days and there are very few news sources that have no ulterior motives.
Callie recently posted…Larger-Then-Life Lara (A Middle-Grade Book Review)
Just wanted to clarify too that I do not take his comments about illegal immigration in a racist way either, I was just saying I can see how his comments on that could be misunderstood when taken out of context. The point is, it’s your OPINION that he’s racist. There are many of us who don’t believe that, including many who are part of minority groups that voted for him.
Callie recently posted…Larger-Then-Life Lara (A Middle-Grade Book Review)
I have no words (ok, in reality I have A LOT of words but can’t get them out) with the things that occurred/are occurring during/because of this election season. All I can say is that I love your heart!!!
Susannah recently posted…I Am Praying for Persecution
I just went and read your post on this topic and it was SO good. So, so good. I wrote more in a comment on the post but just wanted to say that I’m right there with you!L
Thank you for this Lauren. As a woman of color (although I don’t speak for them all in the least), I have felt this sentiment written in the The Atlantic “White, conservative Christians may have thought they were just casting a vote for president, but some of their brothers and sisters in the church see their choice as a direct and personal assault.” (full article: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/the-evangelical-reckoning-on-trump/507161/). Disclaimer to this is I feel the assault as the opening of a gate of racial tension and hatred I thought was closing.
The only thing I want to hear in this time (besides God glorified) is that I am not alone, that the people who supported Trump that are in my life love me, respect me, value my perspective and rights/life and condemn the viral hate that is happening against people that look like me in the name of Trump support. I am at this place that all I want to hear is “I love you, you matter to me, we will fight these atrocities together. I don’t want to hurt you or see you hurt. I am here with you as a friend, you are not alone.” It is not about the politics anymore, it is about the (now exaggerated-but always present) fear I have walking alone and potentially being harassed, or going somewhere I have never been and in fear that I won’t have an ally or friend there to help if something happens.
There is a population of people out there that have been emboldened by the election of Trump who want to hurt me and/or establish dominance over me as a woman and a minority. I just desire to hear the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ say “That is not us.”
Brittany, I’m not necessarily one of the Trump supporters or sisters in Christ directly in your life, but I just wanted to say that there are an army of people of both parties who stand ready to condemn any racism that might occur. I am so saddened by the racial tension we have been suffering through this last year and truly hope we can move forward and heal this divide in our country in the coming years. *hugs*
Callie recently posted…Larger-Then-Life Lara (A Middle-Grade Book Review)
Brittany, I can’t thank you enough for sharing your heart here. That article explains things so well and I hate how this election has been so hurtful to you and so many other people. It may not be much, but know that I am on your side and am praying so much about what it will look like for me and other Christians to represent God’s heart for both love and justice in this crazy season. Praying for your safety physically and for all your conversations and interactions as we all process this election. Thank you for reading – I am so grateful for your perspective!