"Hatred is not the norm"

It is November 5, 2024 ... Election Day. Cathy and I headed to our new polling place shortly before 7 AM, so that I could vote, drop her off at home and get on my way to Marietta. Two voting precincts vote in the same place- Mount Joy 1 and Mount Joy 2. We vote in Mount Joy 1. Despite our early arrival, the parking lot was full and cars were parked bumper to bumper along a country road. As we stood in line waiting, you could hear the anxiety in the voices of those who joined us in line. Once inside, there were three people sitting quietly in chairs, appointed to be the vote monitors. They smiled at us, but said nothing. All the volunteers working the poll were cheerful, friendly and helpful. One knew our son, Andrew, because he officiated at a funeral of a friend. She was very enthusiastic about his leadership and pastoral care. 

Eventually, we voted. The process was efficient. I dropped Cathy off and got on the road to Zion. Sometime before York,  a screen popped up on my phone. It indicated that 99 year old Dick Van Dyke just weighed in on the election. I was curious. Who doesn't like Dick Van Dyke, after all? Stopped in traffic on 30 East, I skimmed the article and was moved by his comments. He quoted a speech by Rod Sterling, creator of the Twilight Zone.

"Hatred is not the norm. Prejudice is not the norm. Suspicion, dislike, jealousy, scapegoating, none of these are the transcendent facet of the human personality. They are diseases. They are the cancers of the soul. They are the infections and contagious viruses that have been breeding humanity for years."

No matter what the election news is later tonight, tomorrow or next week, it is a time for each of us to reckon with where we stand on such important matters. Hatred is not the norm. 

We were created for a "still more excellent way." "Renew in me a right Spirit, O Lord. And create in me a clean heart." AMEN.