One thing that I value in community and have had within the blogging community in the past is authenticity and vulnerability. Over the last several years, I have found it hard to be vulnerable and as a result of that, I stopped sharing my heart.
Vulnerability isn’t being vulnerable in a space that is completely safe and in agreement with you. My heart desires vulnerability in all of my spaces, but it is hard.
One of the hardest areas in which it is hard to be vulnerable is around politics. I’ve skirted this issue so often…too often, really. I’ve been silent and quietly held my tongue in many places, knowing that others did not agree with me.
So, today, I’m taking a step towards vulnerability in sharing with you the why behind my vote this election year. I have already voted by mail and checked that my ballot has been received. I proudly and confidently voted for Biden/Harris.
And now, here are ten reasons why I voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for president/vice-president this year.
- I am a Christ-follower who seeks to love God first and to love my neighbor as myself.
- I am guided by my faith and seeking to live out that faith in how I treat others and how I want our country as a whole to treat others.
- I am pro-life for ALL life.
- I believe that black lives matter.
- I believe that not only do black lives matter, but immigrant lives matter, disabled lives matter, and the lives of all those that are devalued and mistreated matter.
- I believe in American democracy.
- I believe in decency, civility and kindness.
- I believe in honoring and valuing the sacrifice of military service members and their families.
- I believe in caring for God’s creation.
- I believe in religious liberty for all religions and all peoples.
Now, you may be wondering why I’m sharing this at all.
I’ll start out with telling you why I’m not sharing it. I’m not sharing it to tell you who you should vote for. I’m also not sharing it to change your mind. If your mind is already made up, I’m certain that I’m not going to change it nor am I attempting to do so.
I am sharing my why behind voting for Biden/Harris to be vulnerable with you. I value you enough to be open and honest with you about what matters to me.
I’m also sharing to give you a real life example that Christians don’t have to all vote a certain way. You can be a Christ follower and vote for Biden. You can be a Democrat and be a believer in Jesus.
The way we vote does not determine our faith.
Treating others with humility and kindness, valuing them as people and working towards a better world for all is how we live out our faith.
I’m living out my faith the best way I know how and I trust that you are, too.