By William Thornton
Barack Obama has been reelected, and it was not as close as many predicted. I am not much of a political prophet, but I had already pondered this outcome and have decided how I will handle four more years of an Obama presidency.
For examples of voices with whom I will not join see this. For the prime example of conservative Republican candidates self-destructing, see this. I predict a surfeit of similar things in the weeks ahead. Count me out.
I encourage my conservative friends to take the rest of today and gripe all you want — and then join me in the following:
— I will be praying for the president. We followers of Christ are asked to do no less. My prayers will be for his safety, for his decisions and for his leadership. My prayers will be genuine and authentic rather than some contrived, boilerplate, grudging pseudo-prayers.
— I will not be lamenting the demise of America. The republic will survive another four years of an Obama administration. The country survived a couple of generations of Democratic control of the House of Representatives. We survived a civil war. We have endured much over the centuries at the hands of corrupt, inept and incompetent politicians and have survived. I have no exit-America plan.
— I will continue to participate in the political arena. Not that my vote and voice count for much, but I have no plans to relinquish either in a fit of despair.
— I will not join the disgruntled, “Take Back America” crowd, sometimes presenting itself as the “Wake Up America” crowd. There is a pretty substantial civil-rights industry and a sizable poverty industry. Lots of folks make good money in these. In like fashion, there is a growing evangelical, “Take Back America” industry wherein not a few demagogic Christian ministers and others gain a following and often make good money out of it. This industry is counterproductive, futile and often unchristian. No thanks. If you want a more Christian America, then get out of politics and get back to preaching and living the gospel and winning souls. There is no political salvation for this country.
— I will absolutely not spend the next four years being angry, whining and complaining. At my age I look back on far more years than I have the right to look ahead to, and it makes little sense to spend any of these years in an angry, unhappy snit over national politics. I will not spend much time around those whose lives are dominated by an unending stream of political complaints. This is a great country. Does anyone prefer the America of the depressed 1930s or racist 1850s to the one we have now? Does anyone prefer the dirty, grimy America of the late 19th century to the America of today? A little perspective, please.
I was up early this morning and checked closely: Yep. The sun rose again; birds are singing. Later today I expect to see children playing and people smiling. Did I say already that this is a great country?
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.