Why? A Question From Several Eds Ago

This photo has been working on me for a few days now since I photographed it on Thursday morning.  I’ve been wrestling with what the image is saying to me. As I’e been pondering this, I’ve had several interesting moments in addition to this photo. Yesterday, I had a lengthy conversation with a friend about what the Ed of 30 or so years ago would think about who the Ed of today is.  Then this morning, I received an email from a friend who primarily knew a “previous Ed” (click here for a bit of explanation of this language) asking me about social media photos of me and my son at an event for Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown and Martin Sheen.  This friend essentially asked “Why” as we haven’t been in much contact for years now and the Ed they knew back in the day would not have been voting for a Democrat much less attending a Democratic event.

With the photo, I’ve wondered whether what spoke to me was a sense of worry about what is being lost in this crazy time or whether it was a sense of revealing something new that is starting to emerge. So in answer to my friend’s question and as I’ve been reflecting upon this image, I wanted to share what stirred for me this morning as Scout and I were walking. I was reflecting on why I made the choices to vote as I have this year.

I do want to note that this isn’t a “you have to vote like this too” but instead responding to the question and simply putting this out there if others wanted to be in conversation as well.

While I am middle aged, I am voting for the generations that will follow us that the climate and environment they inherit will be healthier than it is now.

While I am white, I am voting for those whose skin color has been used against them in innumerable ways.

While I am an American citizen, I am voting for those who have come to this country longing for something better.

While I recognize that our immigration system is horribly broken, I am voting for reforms that are based in empathy, compassion, and our Constitution rather than measures that dehumanize and brutalize.

While I am cisgender heterosexual, I am voting for my queer daughter and my transgender daughter and for all others of the LGBTQ+ community that they may be safe and be treated equally and fairly and lovingly.

While I am male with full bodily autonomy, I am voting for the women of my life and the women of this country to have full autonomy over the choices for their own health and future.

While I am middle class, I am voting for a system that supports the vast majority of the economic situations of Americans, and not simply continuing to widen the wealth gap that is already wider today than it ever has been.

While I have healthcare provided through my employer, I am voting that we might become a country that sees healthcare as a basic human right and not simply as a privilege.

While I am one who seeks to live in the way of Jesus, I am voting for a system that doesn’t move us further towards Christian nationalism or where Christianity becomes a tool of the government and oppresses those who do not follow.

While I have voted a partisan ticket this year, I am voting in the hope that we do not view those who disagree with us as our enemies, but instead as fellow Americans with whom we live and work and play and serve.

While I have been born into immense privilege, I am voting to use that privilege not only for my own situation, but to try to lift up others - those I know and those I do know.

While I have been ashamed and frustrated with some aspects our country’s history and our country’s present, I am voting with a deep love for what America at times has been, what it can be, and that America can be more than who it is today.

And I am not just voting for others but also for myself with a hope and longing we may learn from our history, recognize our present realities, and move forward into a better future for our all in this great country and for our part in the world.

Thanks for listening and I’m open to conversation if you’d like.

Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed

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