This weekend I cast my ballot
for democracy,
for life,
for equality,
for character,
for decency,
for hope,
for joy,
for unity,
for safety,
for national security,
for bipartisanship,
for prosperity,
for honor,
and for respect.

I am more excited about this vote
than any I have cast in the 36 years I have had the right and privilege to do so.

I understand that the norm in our culture is to keep our ballots private and to avoid talking politics.

But as I have read widely
and listened intently over the past few years
and come—very easily after August 5—to my choice of candidates,
I have also felt compelled to act.
I am in no position to canvas neighborhoods
or serve long hours at polling sites.
I have no notoriety that makes my endorsement hold any value in society.

But I am publicly sharing my ballot to show anyone who may wonder
how a stay-at-home mom
whose faith is central to her life,
who homeschools her children,
who believes in the sanctity of life from womb to tomb,
who is a morally conservative and generally traditional person in many ways
might cast her ballot.

My vote is not a “lesser of two evils” choice.
I wholeheartedly believe
that our nation should be run by someone
who values the rights of and gives respect to every individual in it equally,
who speaks to others with at least the minimal decency I require of my children,
who understands that morality and religion cannot and should not be legislated,
who believes issues like abortion are not political issues and are too complex to be handled as if they are black and white,
and who acknowledges the brokenness in our nation
without damning it and a large percentage of its citizens.

With respect and hope,
I marked my ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris.

I hope she wins,
but if she does not,
my disappointment will contain no despair,
for I live my life as an exile in Babylon,
exercising the rights I am granted here
and participating in society with as much integrity as I can.
But my allegiance is to Jesus and His Kingdom,
which is global and diverse,
not national
or partisan
or white
or male
or heterosexual
or American
and is not threatened in any way by either political victor.

My prayer is that each citizen of our nation
would thoughtfully and intelligently consider
the policies,
words,
behavior,
and character
of each candidate
as reflected in that candidate’s words and actions,
not in ads or clips or propaganda tools,
and cast their vote
as an individual with valid beliefs and opinions,
not as a pawn of any group,
political or otherwise.

May we all live
and treat others
as the Image Bearers that we are—ALL of us.