Time to Wake Up

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” - Mark 1:15

Tomorrow is November 3, 2008, the general election.  There will be millions of Americans streaming in and out of polling booths…many with rabid enthusiasm for their candidates.  When it’s all over, a new president will be chosen, along with thousands of other political office holders.  Contrary to some people, the world will not end…or become a paradise overnight.  The stark reality is that the sun will rise on November 4th and we will still have houses we can’t afford, credit cards we can’t pay, addictions we can’t shake, marriages we can’t save, wars we can’t end, and questions we can’t resolve.

Tomorrow will be a quiet day for me.  I’ll go to work, eat dinner with my family, go for a run with some friends, enjoy some time with my wife, and go to bed.  (If you must know…I did vote by absentee ballot a few days ago).  But my mind will not be on elections or the bright future or the dark days ahead.  Tomorrow I am going to carry a little card around with Jesus’ words from Mark 1:15.  I am going to meditate on those words, pray them, live with them.  The time has come, he says.  Repent and believe the Good News…

I’ll let you know how my day goes.