If You’re Undecided, Vote for Children

John took me out to dinner last night, our Halloween treat. Traffic was wild, as adults, teens and children—dressed up as cartoon characters, villains and superheroes—took over the streets. The music of their voices raised in laughter and song made it clear: There was a need for release, for joy, for a time-out from all that worries us.

I had that kind of time-out with our grandchildren this week. What a joy it was to hug, tickle, laugh, break bread, be still, and pillow-fight with these magical creatures. When your granddaughter says, “Will you come cuddle with me on the couch?” And that is what you desperately need—that stillness, the sweet smell of child-flesh, and the up-and-down of a little body breathing next to you—you know there is a God somewhere. My heart was full, my eyes filled with tears, and I thought, “Oh, this is prayer. This right here. Thank you God for love in my life!”

And of course, the algorithm knows I love children. And so, they flood my screens. Little ones singing with their adults, cooing I love you long before having speech; a boy urging us not to worry, because every little thing is gonna be alright. And the other children, clinging to life, to each other, to their lifeless parents. Bombed out, frightened, hungry children in far too many places around the globe.

Things are not alright. The way things get alright is we tell the truth about what is wrong. We confront oppressive systems with fierce love. We vote for the children in our lives, the ones in our national neighborhoods and the ones in our global communities.

Last Sunday, on Children’s Sabbath, I preached about how we can advocate for children with our voices and votes, and I shared some resources from the Children’s Defense Fund.

With the election just a few days away, I pray you’ve planned to vote. Our little people need us to take our values to the voting box, to vote for love, to stand against violence, and vitriol, and injustice. And here are some things to do right now to encourage others to go to the polls.

1.)     Call family members, especially elders, and ask them about their plan to vote. Take a risk, if you can, and tell them what you think matters most in this moment and ask them to tell you the same. Offer to drive friends and family (or subway with them) to their polling place. They can find their polling place here.

2.)     Make phone calls to voters. I’m going to call for Kamala.

3.)     Call the sitting president, Joe Biden, and share how you feel about the violence around the globe. When you hang up, call congress.

a.        POTUS Comments: 202-456-1111

b.        POTUS Switchboard: 202-456-1414

c.        Senators and Representatives

4.)     Follow Middle Church on social media and share in your own socials posts that express your hopes and dreams. Help us put fierce love in the world. Here are our handles

a.        @RevJacquiLewis

b.        @middlechurch

5.)     Join us in our pre- and post-election programs, which include Sunday worship. Let’s love each other through this moment. 

Our children need super-heroes, loves. Real humans who will work to make a more just society. Voting is a heroic act. Vote for children; vote for love. Vote like all our lives depend on it. Because they do.