What now?

I've spent the last few days contemplating on the events of this week. How in the world did this happen? I was not expecting the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. A lot of theories are hopping around as to how this came to be. They won't be discussed here, as I don't believe that there is any one reason. People had varied motivations for picking their candidate and I don't think generalizing voters is right or particularly useful in this matter. Both of the main candidates were unpleasant, immoral people. I know fellow Christians that voted for Trump, I know Christians that voted for Clinton, and I know Christians who, like myself, chose to vote for other candidates. However much I may have disagreed with their reasons, I don't begrudge them for their positions. Nobody won this election.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't overjoyed at the thought of having narrowly avoided a Clinton presidency. That being said, I'm not enthused at the prospect of Donald Trump running the show. I don't believe that he shares and represents my values or interests. His victory speech didn't suggest someone who holds conservative (or in my case, anti-authoritarian) ideals. I don't believe he's pro-life or is even Christian, as he claims. In these instances, he's no different than Hillary Clinton or our current president. That concerns me. Am I going to have a leader that will allow me to practice my beliefs unmolested? I know that this sounds all "me, me, me" but this blog is about my walk in faith and the values that it entails. I'm not demanding a state church. I'm demanding for the free exercise of my Religion.

On the other hand, my mind takes a pragmatic turn and wonders if persecution is exactly what we need. In some ways, Barack Obama's antagonism toward the Christian faith also helped to temper it. Things like forcing Hobby Lobby to supply abortifacients or appointing a fervent anti-theist like Mikey Weinstein as a consultant on religious tolerance. There was a fight back against both and Christians really need to gain a backbone if the Religion is expected to thrive.

I've participated in three presidential elections and have yet to claim a winning candidate. So I will do what I did for the previous two losses. I will keep calm, hope, and pray for a moral and wise leader.

-L. Travis Hoffman

11/11/2016

"God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Amen."