Tuesday was Election Day.  Throughout the country there were important races run, important issues on the ballot.  My hometown voted on a School Levy in the hopes of building a badly needed new school for 5th and 6th graders.  My father (who hosts a Wadsworth Community Television show called “Bruce on the Loose”) recently had the Superintendent on his show to talk about the levy.  It’s a lot of money, and the levy was complicated because it covered both school operations and building a new school.  Local folks (like my father) tried to educate Wadsworth’s citizens on why the levy is necessary.  Wadsworth is especially on my heart this week.  My parents still live there after all, and Wadsworth, Ohio will always be my hometown.  Thankfully, the levy passed!

If I’m honest, this election season has made me sad for Colchester.  The name-calling and nastiness has been beyond anything I’ve experienced in local elections, and I’ve lived in 4 different states by now and come from a politically active family, clearly.  Reading the local newspaper and trying to keep up with what’s been shared on Facebook has been awful.  And that’s on the outside looking in.

No matter how local elections go, at the end of the day, we are neighbors.  Remember that as Christians we are called to love our neighbors—that call comes from Jesus.  Our elected officials will somehow have to come together to work for the good of all people in Colchester.  We live in a wonderful community.  We are not perfect in Colchester and there are some real challenges here.  Though if we find ways to come together (much like we do in our church, to humble brag for just a second), there’s no telling what we as a community can accomplish, together.   

Love,
Pastor Lauren

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Thursday Thought 11/4/21