Embracing Unity and Hope in Election Season

"Normal people, those of us who get up every day and go to work, go to school, drop our kids off at school, pay our bills, pay our taxes, interact with, and actually do business with people who don't look like us, talk exactly like us or even vote like we do. This is for all of you, Republicans, democrats, independents, who love your country, you love your party, but you like me, are weary of all the middle school playground rhetoric and antics." [00:03:39]

"This is for all of you who are sad or maybe even mad about how all of this has impacted your relationships, maybe even family relationships. And my message to all of you who fall into those categories is this. There's way more of us than there is of them. They're just louder. And our problem is actually our superpower is we don't give the world anything to talk about, report about, complain about because we're busy. We're busy minding our own business, taking care of business, taking care of our families." [00:55:68]

"The reason politicians leverage fear is because it works, but it works because we let it work. So don't let it, the sky is not falling, the end is not near. We're still going to have a country regardless of which candidate wins and which party loses. There's a way forward, there's a way through, but it will require something of us. In fact, it will require something of all of us." [01:14:33]

"I'm convinced the way of Jesus is the way forward for our nation in this cultural moment. And if you're not a religious person, hear me out. By the way of Jesus, I'm not referring to a religious movement or actually anything religious. When Jesus stepped onto the pages of history, religion was broken. In fact, in most quarters it had become irrelevant." [03:03:71]

"Because his followers embraced a way and approach to life that was so contrary to the selfish, violent winner takes all cultures of the day that they actually stood out. They led out their way. The Jesus way attracted men and women from every corner of the empire, Jewish and non-Jewish. And what exactly was it about this way of living that attracted them in spite of violent opposition and persecution?" [04:28:63]

"But the way of Jesus provides a relational bridge. A bridge, a bridge that provides the optimal environment for hammering out the best if imperfect solutions. Because the way of Jesus mandates mandates that we honor one another regardless of our differences, regardless of our political differences. Think about it. It's certainly possible, and you know this, it is certainly possible to love unconditionally and disagree politically." [05:14:59]

"That approach and posture actually creates the optimal context and environment for problem solving, whether it's personal or national. Political and ideological is not a prerequisite for honoring one another, caring for one another, and carrying one another's burdens. You already know that. You know that because you've experienced that, right? You have cared for people, met the needs of people, been generous to people whose political views were unknown to you." [05:45:76]

"The last thing Jesus did for his closest followers before he was arrested was wash their feet. And when he finished, he told them why he did it. And it wasn't because their feet were dirty. Jesus washed their feet so they wouldn't have any excuses not to wash each other's feet. There were dozens of things the men in that room disagreed about. There were things they disagreed with Jesus about, but when their rabbi, their teacher got on his knees and did the work of a slave, the message was clear." [06:34:25]

"Unity is the win. Unity is how we win. Unity is primary. By unity, I don't mean uniformity or a hundred percent agreement. We will never reach 100%. Agreement. Disagreement is unavoidable, but division is a choice. Disrespect is a choice. Fear mongering is a choice. Branding people in the other party as evil and demonic is a choice, a bad choice." [07:52:94]

"Let's be quick to listen and slow to speak. If somebody considers you their enemy, just don't return the favor. Let's not demonize those who arrive at different conclusions and embrace different solutions. Let's do what's not what we can justify. Let's do what's responsible, not simply what's permissible. Let's be kind and yet willing to call out unkindness. Let's be honest and willing to call out dishonesty, especially when it undermines someone's dignity." [08:38:39]

"We will never all see eye to eye on how to address the issues of our day, but we can stand shoulder to shoulder in our commitment to what's best for our nation and what's best for the people in our nation. We will never all agree on what's best for people, but we can agree. In fact, we must agree that what's best for people is what's best. That's our common ground, and that's all the common ground we need." [09:34:53]