Unlike most Americans, I was not shocked at the results of
the recent presidential election. I
could see it coming. Part of it was the
reality that Donald Trump was able to rally the support of the segment of the
population that was frustrated with the status quo. They were tired of the gridlock in Washington
and seeing jobs leaving the country.
For me a bigger indication was the fact that so many young adults
boycotted the election. Early on they
supported Barry Sanders but felt disenfranchised once he was out of the
picture. So, they decided to not vote on
November 8. As a result, Hillary
Clinton lost key battleground states that had previously voted democrat. Millennials, the segment of the population
that elected Barack Obama, cost them the election this time around. The irony is that now many of those who chose
not to vote are protesting the results.
It would be easy to say, “You got what you deserved,” but I
do not see anything be accomplished in that.
In many ways we need to take the same approach as in training them when they were teens. We can point fingers or we can use this as a
teachable moment. In working with
parents of teens I used the terms punishment and discipline. I believe the same principle applies
here. Punishment is to point out the
results and say you deserve it.
Discipline is helping them, and in a sense us, to learn from the
experience. Stay calm. Discuss the consequences, and move on.
In the meantime, Donald Trump will soon be our
President. He won the election, even
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that. Now
he deserves our support and our prayers.
Nothing is accomplished if we complain about the results. In the end God is still on the throne and all
of us, including our leaders, will ultimately have to answer to him. Until Jesus comes again, we need to continue
to be his disciples in a broken world.
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