If you hear anyone complaining about the mess that’s going on now, ask him or her this:

“Did you vote in the last election?”

If the person didn’t, don’t shame him, but say: “Well, we need your vote this year and every year if we want to create a better world.”

In the last federal election (2006 as of this writing) only 40% of the American electorate voted. That means that that the Republican party achieved its “majority” with only 20% of the vote. (The 20% of the American public that thought President Bush was doing a good job.)

So if you aren’t registered – do so this week. God cannot help you if you will not take responsibility, use your talents, and do what you can do.

God works through you. So study the candidates and the issues. Think about who Jesus would vote for.

Would he vote to exclude? Would he vote to take from the poor and give to the rich? Would he vote to build a wall to keep others out?

Or would he vote for inclusion, for public schools, for fairness, for jobs, for social justice, for working together cooperatively to raise us all up, not just those at the top?

Would he be in favor of revenge and perpetual war?

Or would he promote a message of forgiveness and peace?

You know the answer.

Being a Christian is not just about your interior world. It’s about contacting God’s goodness on the inside and then acting in alignment with that goodness on the outside.

We each have a responsibility to make the world a better, fairer place for others. We each have a responsibility to be aware and to act on that awareness.

Yet, even from a purely selfish point of view, we cannot afford to leave “the usual suspects” in charge and unattended.

“Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?” Job 31:4

“The profit of the earth is for all.” Ecclesiastes 5:9

“The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruit.” 2 Timothy 2:6

“Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Matthew 20:6

Prayer To Be A Transformer

Dear God,

I am one person,
Yet I am the world.

Through my consciousness
You transform the world.

Through me, truth is spoken.
Through me, wrongs are righted.
Through me, bravery survives.
Through me, a free spirit lives.
Through me, compassion has a voice.
Through me, love prevails.

I am a force for good.

Today, I give myself over to this calling,
And to You.

I am Your love incarnate.

I am an instrument of healing.

I am a force for good.

And so it is.
Amen.