Blog #44: Consider It All!
"Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." Proverbs 18:13 NLT
It's election season, which means political ads, campaign promises, debates, social media commentary, and plenty of opinions. And EVERYBODY is an expert now! Which makes it even more important that we take time to understand the issues and research candidates for ourselves rather than relying solely on other people's opinions.
Having experienced politics as both a statewide candidate and the executive director of a statewide political party, I've seen how easily conversations can shift away from the issues and toward personalities, accusations, and political gamesmanship. People still ask whether I'll run for office again, and my answer right now is no. I've become increasingly frustrated with how much energy is spent fighting, attacking individuals, and protecting perceived power rather than working toward meaningful solutions. I touched on some of this in my May blog, Same Team. Different Roles, so I won't revisit all of that here. But my commitment to public service hasn't changed. I continue to serve my community professionally and through volunteer work, and I hope that demonstrates there are plenty of ways to make a difference without having your name on a ballot.
Many of the issues affecting our communities, including education, healthcare, and even economic development, aren't black and white. Improving them requires thoughtful consideration of where we are, what's possible, and how we move toward something better. As a decision-maker, I've certainly been on the receiving end of criticism, and over time, I've become more comfortable knowing that not everyone will agree with or understand my decisions. I've also learned that it's easy to criticize from the sidelines. Folks may not fully understand the competing priorities, limited resources, and potential consequences involved, or they may simply approach the situation with different values and personal experiences. I appreciate different perspectives and thoughtful challenges, so I've learned to ask a simple question when someone disagrees with a decision: "What would you recommend instead?" It encourages us to move beyond criticism and consider what a realistic solution might look like.
Which brings me to Proverbs 18.
I've always appreciated Proverbs as one of the most practical and straightforward books of the Bible. It's full of wisdom about our relationships, decisions, words, and everyday behavior. Proverbs 18, in particular, has a lot to say about understanding, exercising good judgment, and how we communicate with others.
In verse 2, we're told that fools have no interest in understanding and only want to express their own opinions.
Then, in verse 13, we're warned that speaking before listening to the facts is foolish. And just a few verses later, verse 17 reminds us that the first person to present their case may sound right until someone else comes along and challenges their account. See how practical this is!
Notice how these verses connect. We're challenged to consider whether we're genuinely interested in understanding or simply expressing what we think. We're reminded to listen before speaking and cautioned against accepting the first version of a story without considering what else we might need to know. Wisdom requires humility, discernment, and a willingness to acknowledge that we may not have the complete picture.
I love how the Bible is still so relevant to the situations that arise today.
How often do we read a headline and immediately form an opinion? Share an article without reading it? Watch a short video without understanding the context? Repeat something someone else said without checking whether it's true? Or accept someone's perspective without considering how their personal interests or frustrations might influence what they're sharing?
I know we've all done some version of this.
We have more access to information than ever before, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're becoming more informed. Social media has made it easier to follow current events, hear different perspectives, and participate in conversations. But access to information also requires us to exercise discernment about what we consume, believe, and share.
Being informed requires us to intentionally seek knowledge rather than simply rely on the opinions of others. We have to be willing to do our own research, ask questions, and consider multiple perspectives before deciding what we believe.
There's a difference between being informed and being influenced. Don't just inherit someone else's opinion. Take the time to develop your own.
This is especially important when it comes to our local communities. We can spend hours following national political personalities and controversies while knowing very little about the decisions being made in our own backyards. We might know what someone said on television yesterday but have no idea what's on the agenda for our next city council or school board meeting. Meanwhile, decisions about education, public safety, infrastructure, housing, and community resources affect our everyday lives.
You don't have to be interested in politics to be affected by public policy. And you don't have to become an expert on government to be an informed and engaged citizen. But we should care enough to understand what's happening around us and consider how we can contribute.
As we approach Election Day on November 3, here are a few places to start:
Vote! Take time to understand what's on your ballot, including state and local races. And don't wait until a presidential election to pay attention.
Do your homework. Visit resources like Ballotpedia and VOTE411 to research candidates and ballot issues. Explore candidates' websites, priorities, and records. Understand the responsibilities of the offices they're seeking.
Pay attention to local government. Attend a city or county council meeting, school board meeting, or public forum. Many are available online. Learn how decisions are made and where your voice can contribute.
Find your way to serve. Volunteer, mentor, join a community organization, or serve on a board or committee. Public service takes many forms.
Seek different perspectives. Read beyond the headlines, ask questions, and listen to people whose experiences and opinions differ from your own.
Guard your heart and mind. Be intentional about what you consume and how much energy you give political commentary. As I discussed in October's 3AM Office Hours, we have to pay attention to what we're allowing to occupy our thoughts.
As people of faith, I believe seeking wisdom should extend beyond our personal relationships into how we engage with the communities where God has placed us. Proverbs 18 reminds us that understanding requires listening, that the first account may not be the complete story, and that having something to say doesn't necessarily mean we have something worth saying.
So, as we head into another election, here's my challenge: Consider it all! Consider the facts, the source, the circumstances, and perspectives beyond your own. Consider what you would recommend instead of simply pointing out what's wrong. And most importantly, consider what you're doing to contribute to the communities where you live, work, worship, and raise your families.
Our communities need people willing to do more than talk about what's wrong. They need people who care enough to learn, participate, and contribute to making things better.
Less scrolling. Less fighting. More learning. More understanding. More involvement.
And please, go vote!
Stay faithful | Stay disciplined | Stay aligned
Live Blurred,
ZeNai
Reflection
Am I developing my own informed opinions, or am I relying too heavily on what others think?
Where am I getting my information, and am I considering different perspectives before forming conclusions?
When I disagree with a policy or decision, am I willing to ask, "What would I recommend instead?"
What's one practical way I can become more informed or involved in my community?
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