“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Mt 5:9

I prayed for lots of things yesterday. Including a decisive presidential win. But I went to bed late and woke up early to the same undecided states. There will be no quick victory. Only more waiting.

I feel like my kids at Christmas, when I make them wait on the top steps as I start early morning coffee. All I want want is to unwrap the election results – hoping it is a present for me!! I am not alone – this is why you will hear premature declarations. But still we wait.

And in the waiting, I know why I prayed for something decisive. I desired a sign that we are not so divided. But that result is final — no mater who wins, our country is split. Both candidates are closing in on 70 million votes. Both sides are passionate. What will happen next?… Again, we have to wait.

Actually we don’t have to wait to cross this divide. We can shine love’s light right now on our neighbors who disagree.

The promise of the beatitude I quoted above, “will be called children of God”, is repeated later in Matthew five:

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Here we do not just earn the title children, when we love our enemies we ARE children of God!

As we wait. We will probably stress (at least I will!). But we will pray. And we can also love… that a miracle of God may arrive. Not that our candidate wins, but that our nation’s divisions heal!

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Last week I wrote on the election and John 2. Click here if you didn’t get a chance to read it.