Oh God, take away my state of apathy when it comes to my spiritual and political involement; Let ms not take for granted the right to vote that long gone military men and woman won for me

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [a]give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, Romans 12:10-12

I just returned from participating and fulfilling my duties of election judging. Out of 1683 in our voting precinct, only 40 turned out to vote.  This seemed to be the norm throughout our state.   From past elections, I can only assume that people didn't have time, couldn't justify voting for one office on the ballot, had other more pressing commitments, or didn't want to be bothered.

This apathy even extends beyond the ballot box. Our congressmen and legislators will tell you that most people do not even bother calling or writing them about issues they deem important to them. From past experience, I can only assume that people didn't have time, couldn't justify taking the time to call or write their representative, decided that their opinions didn't matter, had other pressing commitments, or simply didn't want to be bothered.

This apathy even goes beyond to the spiritual side of people. How often do we leave God out of the equation in our prayer life by neglecting to come to him with our worries, our anxieties, our deep sense of sadness and our 'failures' in this life?  Rather than open up with God, the one who fearfully and wonderfully made us, we turn from God when things do not go right for us, or we blame him for the evil we see unleashing on the world.

Is it possible that our political apathy would disappear if we could see the dead Viet Nam veterans staring back at us through that famous war memorial? Is it possible our spiritual apathy would end if we could for one moment experience being at the foot of the cross as Jesus took his final breath as a mere human, or being in that room filled with his disciples after he returns in his new spiritual form, or experiencing the power of the living spirit entering in his disciples lives after his ascension?

What if, instead of blaming our politicians, instead of blaming God, we were to come to God with all of our worries, all of our anxieties and all of our concerns? What if we were to cry out to God to guide our politicians in the day to day decisions they must make on behalf of 'we the people?' What if we were to send a text to our Politicians, republican and democratic, that we prayed for them?  What if we decided to roll up our shirt sleeves and write to them when pressing issues arise, instead of perpetually complaining about what they are not doing right?

What if for the next 30 days we begin reading the gospel of John each morning, one chapter at a time, and then ask God to teach us what it means in our lives? Is it very possible that our spiritual apathy would cease? 

 I think it would make a difference.