I sit writing to you all today having just finished listening to the victory speeches of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As someone who was previously ignorant to matters of politics, it has been a deeply thoughtful and very eye opening couple of months. I learnt that you cannot possibly remain neutral in matters of justice- you must confirm your stance and stand tall and undefeated in the pursuit of what you believe in.
What I found telling was the beliefs of others- it is fairly easy to go through the motions and interact with others on a base level, not fully comprehending the values they hold and the reason behind their formation. I understand completely that the last few days have brought about many mixed feelings for all of us. While I am very content with the decision of the American people, I recognise this is not the case for all of us. I sympathise with those who are struggling with the results of the election and are unsure of how to proceed. Perhaps you, dear reader, feel this way. I have nothing but respect for you. What many forget is that it is not necessary to hold the same beliefs as another in order to be friends and act with a kind, loving heart. To be Christlike, after all, is to refuse to discriminate. To find common ground and a way to move forward together. To take others as they are and seek to understand their point of view. Taking religion out of this matter, it is core human decency. As grown people, we must take the higher path and act with maturity, self discipline and grace. Being a foreigner, an Australian, I am not affected personally by the election but feel nonetheless that those now in government will do America justice.
My long term readers would know that my partner, whom I’ve been with for almost two years now, is disabled. He has a terminal lung condition that only one in a million develop. In short, as he likes to put it, he well and truly won the genetic lottery. When our paths merged, so did the pain and joy we experience. Dignity in healthcare and justice for those in minority groups became an integral part of what I fight for. Too often, when making important decisions such as voting, we think only of ourselves, failing to consider the subsequent impact on family, friends and the communities we are a part of. It takes strong character to admit that we don’t know best sometimes. Being under informed, however, was never the problem. It is up to us to dedicate our time, resources and talents to the pursuit of what is just and fair. We must be open to growing a wealth of knowledge and considering other points of view. We must be worldly people with our sights set on what is eternal. What we do in this life matters. Please don’t stay stuck in your ways. Take the journey of life as it comes and commit to showing up more fully each day. Use your platforms for representation. Never underestimate your power as an individual.
I want to reiterate that I am not here to change you, to separate right from wrong, to display judgement or to exclaim that I am holier than thou. I would simply like to invite you to deeper thought. Challenge the system- do not be a sheep or a follower. Be an individual who believes not cheap speech but consistent action. Have proof to back up any claim you make or belief you hold. Do not leave any room for falter or waiver. Be convicted by faith. You must be an enthusiast in life- lukewarm and half hearted is no good. Be fully in or be out. Discover your truth, even and especially if it strays from the normal or takes you off the well beaten path. Dare to disagree- why do you think family members have opposing political views and vote differently? Even those who care for each other will not think the exact same way and through no fault of their own. We must make informed decisions and understand where we can affect change and when we must stand down. You can present the most convincing, fact checked arguments and still be refuted or disagreed with.
True belief will not come from an unwilling participant. My partner’s father is a Trump supporter and he is devastated by the outcome of the election. In fact, he won’t speak about it. The results have become a string of dirty words in his mouth. He is an old school Christian firm in what he was taught and knows well. Election is about giving people choice and putting into action the proposed hopes and plans for the greater majority. Nobody places their vote because they wish to go against others- they vote with their minds, their hearts and make the choice they deem best. Taking this into account, a loss is difficult.
Nothing in life is black or white and some situations won’t call for a clean cut answer of yes or no. As a ten year old kid I was very close to my cousin’s girlfriend. Nobody in the family liked her as she was mean to them. Hell, she even treated my cousin a similar way. However, she adored me. I saw no reason to feel differently towards her as my experience was positive. Both sides of the coin as to her attitude and treatment of others was true- she was capable of being a bubbly, kind person and a demanding, uninterested one at the same time.
My concern with Trump was his lack of proper leadership and inability to see the bigger picture and consider the greater good. His plans for the healthcare system had me feeling very unsettled- my partner needs a respirator to breathe and they are costly beyond measure. To think that his right to quality, lifesaving healthcare was being threatened tore me apart inside. This was not a consideration for my boyfriend’s father. While I disagree with this view and find it hurtful, this is reality. You cannot expect to change people. Put simply, few things in the world make sense. Results show that a great number of people of colour voted for Trump. In my eyes, I see this as feeding the hand that bites you. It makes as little sense as the saying does reversed but it sums up the situation!
Lovely inspiration as always, and I know what you mean. I was also disappointed by the number of POC who voted for Trump, like come on, have you forgotten about all he did/said??
Ah well. It’s in the past now. Hopefully, it can only get better from here. Hope you’re doing well, Maryam! 💕
Yes, absolutely! That is definitely my hope. I trust and pray that good things are on the horizon and communities can begin to heal.
How are you doing Wardah? x
Me too! I’m doing great, thank you for asking Maryam! 🤗
Not a problem! Enjoy your weekend x
Wow! This is so beautifully written, Maryam! Every country is in the hands of God and I’m continually trusting Him to guide us to peace and unity. There won’t be a leader who 100% aligns with our values and Christian beliefs, but we can rely on God to give wisdom to the leader
Thank you very much Jocey! I absolutely love what you’ve said here. A leader will never be without his or her faults and there is no guaranteed perfect fit but we must look beyond to the one that is in charge. That’s God and always has been Him. Every single day he works through us and other people in ways small and big. I hope unity and peace will be restored to America and the people can find a way forward. In the meantime, we shall watch and see. Here’s to hoping for positive next steps x
I’m reminded of this Bible verse. Just popped into my head really. The Bible is such a beautiful holy book. It is packed full of wisdom and there is verses for every situation.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isiah 43:19 (:
That second paragraph… wow. I could just tell that I was reading the words of someone who was fair, just, strong and extremely kind to her fellow beings. I’ve read many posts about the results of the election but I have to say that this is undoubtedly the best one. You clearly explained why voting and the opinion of people is important as well as why we should care about other’s opinions. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much Denise. I’m so happy you resonated with my words! This blogging community has always been my favourite place. It is safe, it is genuine and there are so many likeminded people to interact with. When writing this post, I took extra care to be diplomatic through acknowledging and validating the world views of others. Prior to the election results being announced, there was quite the frenzy here with various bloggers I follow sharing their views. With that in mind, it wasn’t enough just to speak about how I felt. I wanted this post to spark discussion for all bloggers, no matter their political stance. There will always be a common goal we can work towards after all ❤️
I found that many of the Christian bloggers here held opposing views to mine. Despite this, they are some of the most beautiful souls I’ve met and have undoubtedly brought me closer to God and his word. People of all races, ages and walks of life. Each person is capable of teaching us something! x
Lovely post Maryam, as usual 💗 I don’t agree with Joe Biden but all I can do right now is that God would give his wisdom and help him lead our country once he’s placed in charge.
Thank you for reading and remaining open to hearing my views Jasmin! I’d love to hear yours too if you’re up for sharing 🙂
I do agree! It’s not a person that makes a leader but the qualities he or she possesses. When you think about it that way, it puts things into perspective. Ultimately, there is no earthly person who is truly in charge- God is driver in the car that is life and we are the passengers. Sometimes there will be detours, reroutes, potholes and traffic but there is an eventual destination we are headed for- a comforting thought! This is not the end. Another point to consider is this- Trump was president for four years and Biden will now serve for four. Assuming he doesn’t continue on as President, the world will be able to make an informed decision as to who served better. As of now, we don’t know much! Information on one half of the equation is totally missing.
Here’s to praying for many prosperous, hopeful and success filled days ahead ❤️
I love this post and how you laid out your thoughts 💭 Being here in America, I really felt the weight of responsibility of each individual voter’s impact during this election. I’m also glad Kanye West didn’t actually run for president like he said he would, because that would just be embarrassing. 🙈
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts! I didn’t know Kanye West could seriously run for president. What are the prior qualifications he’d need or requirements for candidates?
I think the main requirements are they have to be born in the USA and at least 35 years old and lived in the USA for at least 14 years. After that, it’s pretty much fair game for whoever can get the votes lol
After Trump won four years ago, I think a lot of people were like wowww if HE can win, I guess anybody can be voted to run this country 😂
It’s really interesting to hear your perspective though, living halfway around the globe yet still faced with people of differing opinions.