Let me begin by stating this comment concerns two things: the coming elections and some insights as a retired minister. I want to offer an idea to consider that I have not seen reflected in letters about the election. Perhaps this will result in election considerations that are not just bashing the other ‘political party’ or current politicians.

To begin with, I have read (and constantly hear on TV) all the ‘political’ reasons for voting for one candidate or another. Most appear to be based on opinions with few facts or on opinions that reflect a person’s political orientation (elephant or donkey) or on just plain fear. Further, I hear that for some people there appears to be a reason not to vote because “There is nothing but bad choices.” I do not share that skepticism.

In all elections my overriding belief is choices should be based on a long-term personal spiritual reflection rather than almost any other reason. I believe that to eliminate my spiritual orientation is to leave out the most important factor determining my decision for the nation and the world. The overriding issue is what does it mean to be “under God,” no matter what you mean by “God.”

I believe that the long-term goal of humanity is to create a culture and a world based on the ideas of acceptance, mercy, healing, forgiveness and love, which appear to me to be the center of all the major world religions. On that understanding, ongoing listening for the coming weeks and months should focus on which candidate will work to bring about THAT kind of society and world. Our spiritual musings should deepen our understanding that there are no perfect people; all humans have unpleasant ‘quirks’ in their lives, including all candidates, past and present. Our explorations should rather be based on a spiritual examination of the actual behavior in the candidate’s personal relationships, work and public activity to this point in their life.

This leads to the following questions. Has the candidate’s life demonstrated the spirituality of acceptance, mercy, healing, forgiveness and love, the qualities necessary to make our nation and world a better place? Which examples in their lives illustrate those qualities and which do not empower those hopes and dreams for our future? Our election decisions should be based on the kind of future we as a nation ‘under God’ intend to project to our children and grandchildren and the world at large! It is my personal hope that this November our choice will move us further in becoming the kind of place where all people can spiritually live and work together in peace. This understanding of nation building, after all, appeared to be the intention of our founding fathers.