The Morning After a Dumpster Fire. Election 2016.

   I woke up this morning to a different America. I woke up this morning burdened for my friends that  have to explain this to their kids. For my African American friends who feel like "men without a country". I think of my Muslim friend here in Nashville who said " I am so fearful for what my life will look like, if He becomes President". Beyond all that, and I think why this election has affected me more than in previous years, is that I have to ask the question " Where are the good men that could have opposed this guy?" What saddens me most is that its folks like me that put him there.

Folks in the media have referred to Trump's demographic as " The Back Row Kids". The deplorables. The hillbillies. I didn't vote for Donald. I do however  understand how he won and that makes me sad. I'll tell you a story.

In 12th grade I ran for Senior Class President. It was mostly a joke because I wanted to plan our ten year reunion because, while I didn't have a knack for Calculus, I knew how to plan a party. The election went to 3 recounts. I was told that I won the first one, won the second one, and some teachers demanded a third one. Perhaps not surprisingly, I lost the third one and was told I wouldn't be president. I was bummed but not heartbroken. My friends Jeff and Travis put up a fight however, and during it the teacher told me " You aren't the kind of guy we want giving the graduation speech". The teacher then told me he would give me full class credit if I no longer came to his class. He would just tell the powers that be that I was there and I could sleep in. What I had believed my entire life had been solidified that day. "Folks like you have no business dabbling in things that really matter". Multiply that by every kid in Appalachia, Coal Country, The Rust Belt, and the Midwest, and you have some pretty upset folks. Read the book " Hillbilly Elegy", J.D. Vance has said it better than anyone else ever has. For myself though,  I look at the diplomas on the wall. I look at this beautiful city that I love. I look at  this job that I am beyond thankful for every day. I look at this incredible West Coast beauty who has promised to marry me, and I think " I'm not supposed to have any of this". I will be interested to see in the coming days how it is all broken down demographically, but one thing is for certain, My family members, My Appalachian brothers and sisters, My parents who lost jobs to Mexico after 35 years of service to their companies, showed up to vote, and I never remember that happening. "The Back Row Kids" have stopped throwing spit wads at the nerds up front, and have angrily voted to remind everyone that they haven't disappeared.

The thing that really saddens me is that Trump is a front row kid. His trust fund got him there. He built a business exploiting folks like my Appalachian friends. He claims to know all the best words, and those words got him elected. Where are the men to oppose him? Where are the folks who will stand up to him? Where are the Roosevelts? The Eisenhowers? The George W. Bushes?

I don't know much, but what I do know is this, Politics won't give us what we really need. What we need is hope. What we need is a reminder that this world isn't our home. What we need is to remember that some have placed their hope in chariots and horses, but the Christian has placed his hope in the Almighty. What the Church has now is an amazing platform to say to those lost, sad, confused, scared, and hurting is the same message the church has had for 2,000 years, that we are offered citizenship in another kingdom. One that is not subject to the whims of a ballot box, but are guided by the loving hands of a Sovereign King. I love America. I will stand for the National Anthem, I'll wave a flag on Independence Day. But America is not the church triumphant. America didn't die to take away the sins of the world. At the end of it all, America will be no more. The Kingdom will continue to march.  She has survived, as Russell Moore wrote " everything from the rage of Nero to that of Middle Eastern Terrorist Cells". Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, and because of that I can lift my head this morning. Because of that I can look at the Trump regime and say that my prayers are with you. I can work with Trump where I can, and oppose him when needed. I hope that Trump doesn't keep some of the promises he made during his campaign. We don't need a wall. We don't need " stop and search". We don't need to torture the families of terrorists. We are better than that. We have to be.

Oh and to that teacher that said "folks like me don't make speeches", I speak for a living, so go suck an egg...... j/k.