It was a long day, yesterday, and Lord forgive me, I didn’t write a devotion, but collapsed into bed, whew… Thank you Lord for mercy and a good night sleep.

I loved the day yesterday helping, being FRIENDLY, and WAVING at waves of voters who we also neighbors. Yes, my first time here helping with elections as a poll worker in my neighborhood, yes I could have even walked to the place, but a 6am arrival and 9pm departure, I’m glad I drove. Whew…

I packed my lunch, but the church host also provided sandwiches, yay. Oops to no mustard and mayo, so a poll worker texted her husband to bring some from home. And we gave out stickers and smiles and seriousness too. My ‘judge’ of elections was super knowledgeable and experienced, and a lot of people knew him, or were neighbors to the other workers. It was a 2-district polling place, but only a few got confused, and we easily could ask “where do you live?” and know, since we know our local roads. We all had that ‘chomping at the bit to help’ attitude, and they were gracious to me and another ‘newbie’ who was a student. I loved living friendliness alongside them.

And funny… “do you swear?”, asked when the oath was administered, “well I swear all the time” funny… and as we strung electrical power cords behind chairs, we powered up and were ready to go. Also had a backup number check of paper written tally and iPad tally and scanner tally. It’s a good system with kinks worked out now, and although an electric machine is there for backup, no one used it. The people needing assistance had people with them,and there is paperwork for that too.

I know that while I could see party affiliation, I certainly didn’t see red or blue in faces, I saw people,  I saw smiles, I saw concern, I saw joy, I saw sweat on the guy who booked an hour plus to drive in in time, I saw ‘whew’ for someone who dropped his license but another found it, I saw determination from someone just fresh off a 20-hour flight home, I saw ‘ugh’ when someone had to go home twice for paperwork. I saw parents and grandparents teaching children, teens learning the process, and daughters and sons helping elderly and frail folk. and I saw LOVE all around.

I know that I didn’t see whom people voted for, as they concealed their papers, but I saw plenty allegiance to the local football team, with always one in the crowd who was bravely wearing a hat for a not-so local and big rival. I saw neighbors whom I shared more conversation with than I had in years, and whew avoiding only a couple of embarrassing moments where I knew I knew their name 15 years ago, but ah… all good…

The sweetness of the adult daughter helping her dad who had a stroke, was also our opportunity to see his determination in even writing his name. I noticed that the older people signed more deliberately than just the swoop across an electronic screen these days. I saw generations of Sr and Jr, whole families, dads waiting for daughters and clutches of chatty chums.

I saw all this sitting for hours, smiling, snacking, signing my name, sighing my heart, and even a sunset. And personally I only saw a few hundred people, which is both a lot and also not. I know that we all wanted to help and hold down the fort, laugh and listen, guide and enable, and still get out at a decent time. The election watchers came in at the end, we could be friendly and yes there were extra sandwiches I delivered at the distance. And we sat for a final task of tallying and math. Everyone wrote, everyone double checked math. Cooperation in computation.

The church was nice, had good bathrooms, was heated well, good light, cordial and convenient, easy parking… and did I appreciate the wall mural near the back of Jesus being welcoming? You bet I did!!! It was a welcoming space, and welcoming face. Jesus knows His Place, giving hope and grace.

And isn’t that what life in the Lord is about?

Knowing His place

IS in every space,

In each merciful act and forgiving grace.

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It wasn’t “Red or blue”

But how are you?

What can I do?

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And in reality,

Friendly hospitality

Beats hostility.

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It’s how civil and blessed people behave,

Keep at bay any feeling too grave

And appreciate and deliver a friendly wave.

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Amen