In all the years I have followed political campaigns I have never witnessed one that is on a par with the current presidential campaign. So much mud has been slung a new mountain has grown in this country that rivals Mount Everest.
The amount of bullying and bellyaching has been shameful. The number of rumors and half-truths twisted to sound truthful has been staggering. I fear we will be electing a president not based on substantive issues, but based on who did the better job of stirring the most angst and anger toward the opposing candidate.
Have your emotions gotten hooked by the rhetoric, finger pointing, half-truths, and outright lies? I’d be surprised if you said no.
But in a few days, our nation is going to have to make a logical decision over a highly emotional issue. How will you make your decision? Will it be based solely on your thoughts about e-mails or misogyny? Will it be based on character assassination and misinformation?
May I suggest that before you fill in those bubbles on the voting ballot that you do as I did before I voted early. I spent time asking God to quiet my mind and heart from all the rhetoric being slung. I asked God to allow my emotions to be set aside, and for God to speak to my heart.
The words of Jesus came to mind: “Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” God honored my prayer and my request.
I had been vacillating between three candidates. As a result of my prayer, I knew for whom I was going to vote. When I went into the voting booth, I had a calmness and peace about my vote. As I filled in the bubble, I thanked God for the guidance and calmness he provided.
Will the candidate for whom I voted win? I will find out next week. But I know this: I have a peace about my vote because I surrounded it with prayer. I did not make a decision based on my agitated emotions, but freely made it in the peace provided by God.
If the candidate I believe to be the least qualified wins will I storm about stirring a fuss, stomping my feet like a brat? No. I may be disappointed, perhaps even a bit unnerved. But I will remember the words from Psalm 42, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God." Can you, will you, do the same?
America is the greatest nation on earth. We are stronger together. God provides freedom for us to enjoy. We have one world with one chance.
Let God speak to your heart.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: How to vote with a peaceful, calm mind