The sun will rise again, and we will move on. ~Unknown.
The good news is that it should end on Tuesday. The bad news is that it probably won’t.
Mail-in ballots, Supreme Court arguments, voting deadlines, COVID-19, masks/no masks, red/blue, protests, stimulus checks, open/not open, guns, tariffs, climate change, free tuition and immigration are all part of the 2020 conversation if you can call it a conversation.
Those subjects will likely remain on the lips of the media, politicians and state leaders. Facebook and social media will explode, count on it.
But what does it mean for you? Possibly nothing, but probably a lot.
Yes, life will go on, and there is hope. But normalcy is not on the Christmas list for 2020. Unfortunately, neither is peace on Earth and perhaps not goodwill to men. Sorry, it’s just the nature of the year. This is not a doom and gloom story, just realization of where our country and society are in this season.
- If Trump wins, expect more of the same: Riots, unrest and investigations. The stock market may remain steady, and Twitter will still be alive with duelling entries.
- If Biden wins, expect a drop in the stock market, the housing market, a dramatic redirection of focus on the economy, health care and immigration.
- Congress may be re-shaped, unemployment will still be a factor, the deficit and budget will grow wildly, and 2020 will extend into 2021. Cherished activities like church, football games, holiday gatherings, parties and concerts will likely be curtailed until mid-2021 or later.
What will you wake up to on Wednesday? How will you address it? Are you prepared? With post-election predictions ranging from civil unrest and extended counts in some states to court challenges and media bias, the possibility of confusion and chaos is almost a given.
For you, here’s a roadmap:
- Stay calm and seek peace. It has to start with someone. Why not you and me? You won’t find peace in most news networks, on social media or at the water cooler. Be a voice of reason and common sense. Both of those positions are not only rare but missing in today’s society.
- Take care of yourself, stay off the roller coaster. Be vigilant, be aware, be cautious. No, this isn’t a call to arms. But be aware of your surroundings, and be vigilant about words and be cautious regarding your family and belongings.
- What does it matter if you’re right? What’s important here? Is it your guy winning or is there a bigger picture? Don’t gloat, don’t adopt the I-told-you-so attitude and don’t get dragged into the mud fight.
- Don’t believe everything you hear. You already know this, but what you hear on TV is only half true, and the other is not based in fact. In this season, you need to take anything you hear with 2-3 grains of salt, not just one.
- Take a stand, but decide which hill you want to die on. Which kingdom are you fighting for? Republican? Democrat? Independent? God’s kingdom? There’s a stark choice, and you can have one allegiance. Believe it or not, God is not a republican, and He is not a democrat.
- Be a blessing, be a solution. Change your focus, change your world.
I’ve used this before, but it’s worth a reminder. As you navigate the next few days, remember:
“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger — but recognize the opportunity.” ~ John F. Kennedy
Yes and amen!!