Post Election Guest Author #1

I asked two of my friends whom I respect dearly to be a guest authors on my blog. One is a Obama supporter and the other a McCain supporter. I simply gave them this direction. Write a post about your thoughts, feelings, reactions, observations post election. I don't care what you write just be nice and write from your heart.

Here is the first one from my friend Krista.

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"Although I have voted in every presidential election since 1992, this is the one that I got most involved in. For the first time ever I donated money to a campaign. I even put a magnet on the back of my car.

Which was a little nerve wracking, actually. Having an Obama magnet on my car in a sea of McCain bumper stickers and signs made me feel like everyone was looking at me. Judging me.

But in this election I felt like I had a candidate I could be proud of. A candidate I could stand behind, rather than say "he's our best option." Not just change I could believe in, but a candidate I could believe in.

I don't remember what it was that made me put his book, The Audacity of Hope, on hold at the library. But when my turn finally came up on the list, in May 2007, I read the book and was hooked. Obama was a man that I dared to hope would become our president. A reasonable man with a kind heart and big dreams. A realist and an optimist rolled into one. And his politics agreed with mine, too.

So I didn't mind attaching his name to my car. I found myself explaining to people why I was voting for Obama. Repeatedly.

I was dismayed to discover so many people were shocked to find that a regular church going Lutheran was voting for a Democrat. I was even more dismayed at the false accusations that flew around the internet about this man and his faith. I was horrified at the suggestion that a real Christian couldn't vote for him.

Because I believe that Obama's approach to most things, including poverty and war and taxes and health care is far more in line with what Jesus had to say about taking care of our fellow human beings.

As I watched the election returns Tuesday night my heart got lighter and lighter, not because "I won," but because I think America won. Because I think we have a man headed for the White House who has all of our best interests at heart. A man who will work with those who have different ideas and different approaches. A man who will work to restore the respect of our country in the eyes of the world.

A man who restored in me hope, and a pride in being an American.

I know, as he said that night, that it won't be easy. I know that he is just a man, and not a miracle worker. Our country is in a rather large mess right now. But I believe that President-elect Barack Obama, the optimist and realist rolled into one, is ready to get to work.

So am I. Are you?"