I took a much-needed break last week to spend time with my husband and unplug from the world. I have made it my mission to slowly deprogram myself from the daily news updates that have been occurring once I cast my own vote. My mind had been made up for a while and there was nothing short of a miracle that would have caused me to change it. Anything I see and hear now is just information to be “in the know”.
Back in March when we found ourselves in the unfortunate situation of a global pandemic and Zoom calls became extremely popular, along with it came virtual “happy hours”. People were dealing with their anxieties and the fear of the unknown by gathering and drinking and there were no rules to how much drinking would take place. Several times it was asked of me where was my drink and I calmly stated I would be saving my drinking for the weeks leading up to the election which always elicited laughter. A part of me meant it and a part of me was joking. Thankfully I have taken to praying more often than hitting the bottle otherwise I would be drunk off my tail trying to process every breaking news story that I anticipated would raise the temperature of individuals and cause greater divide.
Every week feels like another year lived. I’m thankful to make it through emotionally. We have over 8.5 million people who have been infected by a deadly virus and no national plan to stop it. Over 225,000 have lost their lives because of it and some of them I knew. Others have gotten it and survived but will have long lasting effects for the remainder of their lives. Add in the rise in unemployment, systemic racism, the effects of global warming with the hurricanes and wildfires, there is so much going on that it will make your head spin! I could write a blog on each issue and I still didn’t cover all of them. I salute each one of you struggling through depression and loneliness, trying to figure out how to take care of your family. Wondering how to stretch your last dollar and depending on a government that has shown that they don’t care about you. Politics and power over people!
My heart, my prayers as we enter the most historical election cycle of our lifetime is that we remember who we are as individuals. Some people have really shown their true colors and that is a blessing. It is imperative to do your civic duty and go out and vote for whomever YOU choose and decide whatever interests are best for you and YOUR family. We will not always agree. That is something we are figuring out and it is bringing out the obnoxious side in many.
As I scrolled through my social media before I unplugged, I was so disheartened to see how people were speaking to each. Kindness and compassion were replaced by angry and disgust. The vitriol that was spewing among individuals that once considered themselves friends was less shocking because of where we are as a nation but so disappointing. On any side.
Here’s what I know as a fact. On January 20, 2021 there will be a new president. Whether it is your candidate or mine, only one can remain there from that day forward. What will also remain is every single word we have said to each other, every ugly meme we posted, every time we ridiculed the “other” side and held each other personally accountable for the faults and shortcomings of politicians where one will go back to their own personal life.
Our relationships, how we treat each other, is now forever divided because we let our passion outweigh our common sense and hopped on a train to nowhere. I would like to see us keep this same energy and continue to go out and vote in 2022 and 2024 and every local election in between. Each one matters! Vote like your life depends on it is no longer just a slogan. In 2020, it is real, and it may have cost you a few associations depending on which side of the aisle you lean.
I love you, be kind, be compassionate. We are ALL God’s children!
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3 replies on “Divided Forever”
My SISTER, My SISTER! I’m going to be limit my comments to a minimum because you’ve articulated so many of the thoughts and actions I’ve become all too familiar with lately.
As it relates to this election, our lives do depend on it. I’m doing my part and partnering with the Dems. I say partner because I’m not committed to but one Party…the Holy Spirit’s! I’ve joined Joe and Kamala’s call campaign to get the word out to those who may be in the fence or totally oblivious. Doing my part to help on the journey to healing a wounded country. The impact of allowing the vileness of the current administration has reverberated throughout world. We must shut it down so we can get to a position of respect, dignity and integrity.
We definitely need healing! Getting us back to a place where we can operate with respect, dignity and integrity is perhaps the most important factor of the election cycle which is why I do hope that after November 3rd we don’t get weary but continue to do what is necessary to repair the damage of the past 4 years. Any outcome is going to bring resistance. I’m looking for the one where the healing starts!
You have articulated the myriad of emotions most of us have made every attempt to juggle, oftentimes without much success. The truth is that we must figure out how to unite, we must be intentional and go on apology tours because we have fed into the dissension, the anxiety, the fears of the unknown and the distress overall. We created this mess, we must fix it. One thing the Presidential nominee stated that we must remember is that this is the United States of America. I pray we don’t lose sight of that. I believe each of us must reach out with an olive branch in hand and simply pray God’s mercy on all of our souls. Prayer indeed, followed by action will get us through!