Leading on Wednesday in America

Wednesday is coming to America.

Will we be gracious in defeat or victory?

Will we be incapacitated if we lose? Will we be vindictive if we win?

Will still be all Americans whatever the outcome?

I am making known my views and preferences this season as a citizen and a voter, but someone is going to win, and someone is going to lose on Tuesday, and many will be very unhappy.

Wednesday is coming whether we are ready or not. We may not know the outcome of the election, but the election will be over.

The American experiment and experience are too important to abandon for any ideology that is lesser than the whole.

Wednesday is coming. At that point, we will have some choices we must make:

• Build consensus where we can, or say, "Forget it."

• Rebuild relationships or just be angry.

• Compromise or calcify.

• Negotiate or stalemate.

• Listen or keep talking over each other.

• Speak freely or freeze in silence.

• Work for the common good or sabotage the process.

• Seek reconciliation or retribution.

• Contribute or just complain

• Love our country or hate our political enemies.

• Speak and seek truth or believe misinformation.

• Find solutions or create an impasse.

I think who we elect is important.

I think one outcome will be very difficult and will send the wrong message to the world about Christianity and democracy. I will be depressed and discouraged if it turns out one way.

However, the country may make that decision and will have to just learn from it and deal with it.

But I will not reject my neighbors with whom I arduously disagree.

I plan to keep loving God, my neighbor, and my country and working for a better America where all people are treated with dignity and given opportunity to grow.