Politics Shmolotics

...that's how I've felt about this whole election 08'. Although SNL does a great job of making me laugh about it...It hasn't even passed and quite frankly, I'm tired of it. Everyone has their opinions, everyone knows who they are voting for and their reasons for doing so. Everyone thinks they are right, and everyone else is wrong. Messy. 

Is it is a sin to be unpatriotic? 

God has shown me something about my opinion in the past week or so. 

I've decided practice my right NOT to vote. (I have that right... don't I?) At first, my decision came because I hate all politics. I'm not good at arguing, I'm not all filled in on all the information, and I'm certainly not good at making choices - especially when its picking "the lesser of two evils", as I've heard this election called. I wouldn't say I call myself a pacifist, but I'm not fond of large-scale confrontation. Then, the decision was kind of because I'm forgetful and haven't gotten my absentee ballot - but then again I didn't try too hard to find it. 

Its not because I don't think that even though this system is flawed, my vote can't make a difference. I mean -  lots of institutions work with their imperfections - we're human - we can't make anything perfect. I guess I just feel like there is a choice that I prefer more...

I feel like God has told me - "Adriene, no matter what state your location may be in, you still have the chance to show my love, my grace, my undying love to the people around you. So what if everyone thinks their country is falling to pieces - I use broken people remember? I look for the lost, not the found. I love them. You see those people in distant lands who are so on fire for me? I want that where you are." 

Whether our economy gets better, or bottoms out like a dried up well - my opportunity to follow the great commission has not changed. I'm still called to love the homeless, plead for the widow, and help heal the sick. Even if I don't get to use my car (since I am one of the lucky 8% of the world's population who actually has one) - I can follow God. If I have to start growing my own veggies - I can follow God. If I can't grow my own veggies because I was not blessed with a green thumb - I can follow God. 

I was reading out of Ezekiel 37 today. A valley of dry bones - brought to life before the prophet's very eyes. A symbolic tale depicting Israel coming back to life. Hopeless. Cut off. Brought back from the grave. "And then you will know I am the Lord". 

I've seen it in my own life. God is so majestic. That's all I could think about when I read this over and over again. It didn't even scare me - I was in awe of my heavenly father - and I was so happy because that hasn't happened for a long time. 

Is it possible for that to happen again? A nation brought back to life? A nation who KNOWS that HE is the Lord? A lofty dream maybe, but a prayer that won't be taken off my list.  If not a nation like we know them now, but a people maybe? A people who returns to their first love?

All I know, is that I can't deny him right now, and I love it.