Election Day
“For an Election
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers
and privileges: Guide the people of the United States in the election of a president and other officials and representatives;
that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of
all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your
purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Book of Common Prayer, p. 822.
It is hard not to think about the election today. I remember all those who are running for office, some I know personally. I have looked through a small window to see what a great sacrifice it has been for some of them. It has been a sacrifice for their family, for their bodies, for their minds, for their hearts, and for their spirits.
How difficult it must be for candidates to stay with their core values through the whole experience. How hard it must be to stay truthful. We see this at every turn. We hear people saying things they did and will do after the election which we know did not happen and that they will never allow to happen.
That is a great price to pay to win, to lose your integrity. More than any other people, politicians may be susceptible to bribes coming in the form of people with deep pockets who offer money so that they will support their programs or businesses. Winning becomes so expensive or so important that all other values go to the wayside. May this be a lesson for all of us in our own lives as we are tempted to compromise in order to reach a goal.
Our Daughters of the King will be praying in St. Mark’s chapel all day while the polls are open for those running for office today, all of them. They all so need our prayers. We give thanks for their courage to stand up and try to make a difference in this world, often at great sacrifice.
We pray for all of us that we will be able to accept the results of the election and continue to pray for those who did not win and those who did.
We also must pray that all who are elected to office will be able to keep their core values and become the people they say they are and the people God created them to be.
While we are at it, let us pray the same prayer for ourselves.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com