“We the People” by Rev. Wallace Smith

Rev. Wallace Smith

We’ve been working toward this day for a while now, and it is the eve of the election. The Obama campaign has truly been a campaign of “We the People”. Many have been sharing the path for a long time, many others are just now finding their own voice and truly believing in their own capacity to bring the change, to be the change we are looking for not only in Washington or in this country, but in the world.

I have voted now in 5 presidential elections, and I have never been so inspired, so involved, or so hopeful for a candidate, a moment, an opportunity, a movement, a transformation. Tomorrow is one last opportunity to help the campaign, and i would urge all who can, especially in swing states, to simply serve the voters waiting in line with bottles of water, or a snack, anything you can do to help voters stay in line and see this election through, one voice at a time, many voices in harmony with one another, uniting in support of Obama.

It is hard not to be anxious in these last hours. It has been a long journey, and my heart is in this. If you are reading this, I’m sure yours is, too. But I do believe that HOPE will triumph over fear and
LOVE will overcome hate, war, and greed. We have another special
opportunity after the election is over, as clergy and as citizens, to work toward a healing of the divisiveness in this country. “Not red states and blue states, but the United States of America….” I have family that are deeply divided over this election, and you may as well. There are emails I have received that are simply vicious lies, and commercials and words on the campaign that are deeply divisive, dangerously so. How can we heal and unite the people in our congregations and communities (and families)? We will not reach “unity”, but perhaps we can achieve a harmony that draws us all to a better and higher road, that we must walk together. What can we do to bring back a sense of “We the People” beyond this campaign, as together, we must find a way to unite and bring peace and justice to all the world…

“We the People” will work and walk and live side by side in days to come. How will we continue to reach for and hold out as a beacon, faith, hope, and love, that all may walk together. By the grace of God, and in freedom, yes we can!

Rev. Wallace Smith
Shawnee, KS