The Morning After

I woke this morning to a deep sadness, even anger. The election results were not good. Jack Walker had lost his bid to become Judge of the Court of Common Pleas by 809 votes.  40,000 Beaver County voters had gone to the polls. There had been much hope and even cautious confidence that Jack would win. Everyone knew that there were obstacles to overcome, none greater than the blind party vote tradition that plagues our area. Yesterday such electoral laziness cost Jack 3,500 votes. Yes, I am angry at this archaic system and angry at those who foolishly use it.

But my sadness was and is deeper than my anger. When we gathered to pray with Jack and Roxanne on Saturday, we prayed that God would honor Jack’s obedience to what surely was a call into this campaign. And as Lisa Davis helped us gather our prayer requests together, all of us there were struck by the humility and kindness of what Jack and Roxanne asked for. They reminded us to pray for their opponents and their opponents’ families. They gave thanks for all that they had seen and heard and done through the months of the campaign; for good people that they would not have otherwise met. They said they were overwhelmed by the love and support and friends and family and especially the support of the church family at Park. 

Our Men’s Bible Study met early this morning for coffee and kolaches and our cups were full of disappointment and sadness. But God was gracious and spoke to us through his Word. We listened to the agonizing cries of David, the man after God’s own heart, in Psalm 13, and the confused remorse of Jeremiah in Lamentations 3. Both the king and the prophet knew deep sadness, even anger, about the circumstances of their lives. They poured their complaints before the Throne of Grace and in his time God applied His gentle salve to their empty hearts.

Finally, after a long season of despair, Jeremiah could write,

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
       the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,
       and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind
       and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness.

I do not yet see all of God’s great faithfulness this morning of disappointment, but some I call to mind. In his faithfulnes

• God has given many of us the privilege of knowing Jack and Roxanne as friends and members of the family of faith. I count myself among those so blessed and am thankful.
• God called Jack to this campaign and through it He has given us all a model of integrity and steadfastness.
• God called Jack to be, like David, man after His own heart. Jack’s standing among those who follow in faith has not been diminished, but only enhanced by the rigors of this campaign. This cannot be said of many.

Let me offer just a couple of examples.

Political campaigns can be ugly, and though it was relatively clean, this campaign was no exception. Yet, Jack never allowed his friends or workers to reply in kind to harsh words spoken or unethical things done.  

Sunday mornings might be a good time to shake a few hands and solicit some votes – kids are playing soccer and adults are sipping coffee. Maybe there were enough votes to change the results of yesterday’s election to be had on Sunday mornings. Jack didn’t campaign on Sunday mornings. He worshiped the Living God instead. He chose the wise and good way.

I had hoped to be able to call my friend Jack “Judge Walker.” I won’t be able to do so. But I am able to call my friend Jack a man after God’s own heart. If there has to be a choice between the two, I’ll take what I’m left with.

God’s compassions never fail, they are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.

Jack and Roxanne, there is a church family that loves you and is honored to call you both our friends. Thanks be to God.