We can be really dumb sometimes

"First of all, I urge you that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority..." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

I'm sitting here the day after a national election, considering what turned out to be a close election (popular vote). Only four percent separated the two major candidates. As a full-time employee of a church, I tread a careful line before the election, guarding my personal views. Now that the election is over, I can say most of the folks I voted for will be looking for new jobs soon.

Some observations on this "morning after":

• It will be trumpeted that America spoke and voted for change. Well, half of us did. Obama will do well to remember that almost half the country did not vote for him, so he does not enjoy strong majority support. In my over 20 years in the business world, change for change's sake NEVER ends up good.
• Elections should be about choice between ideas. Listening to the news and the pundits and anyone else who managed to get themselves in front of a camera this morning, this election was apparently about getting--finally--a black/minority president. That's all anyone talked about for the 45 minutes I had the TV on!
• We really need to abolish the electoral college. Yesterday's election results would not have changed, but when the popular vote is so close, but the electoral college is not, there's something wrong. Every other office in the country, no matter what level, relies on a straight popular vote: either the people voted for you or not. We like to pay lip service to the idea: one person, one vote. That's hogwash. My vote only counts if I happen to side with the majority, AND if my state carries enough weight to matter on the national stage. Eliminating the electoral college would force candidates to value EVERY voter, no matter his/her residency.

I admit I fear for our nation and the direction a mere majority seem to want to take it. But more importantly, we followers of Christ must take up Paul's exhortation (command?) to Timothy: pray for your leaders, wherever they are. Paul didn't qualify his command with "if you voted for him/her" or "if they think like you." Just pray for them.

Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will need our prayers: that their decision-making will be infused with godly wisdom and truth (hey, it could happen!), but even more importantly, that they will, if they haven't yet, committ to following Jesus Christ.

Let's start today to pray.