Do you remember watching the news on TV and actually enjoying it? Boy, that feels like a long, long time ago. There are times when I just want to pull the covers over my head and moan, “Wake me after the inauguration.”
But we don’t get to do that, not if we want to be good stewards. Remember, a steward is someone who takes care of something important so that it can be handed on to future generations in good condition.
So, much as many of us would rather not, we have to pay attention. We have to take it seriously. Yes, there are certainly plenty of politicians who are impossible to take seriously (I live in Illinois—I know), but it’s part of our duty as good stewards. We have to pay attention to what the candidates do and say, not just to what other people say they did or said.
Vote and encourage others to vote
Then we have to keep our emotions from drowning out our thinking (see Following Mary’s example of calm thoughtfulness for more on this) while we decide who, in our considered opinion, is better equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century. And then, as good stewards, we have to vote and encourage others to vote as well.
What brought all this to mind is the little stack of postcards and stamps on the table next to me. I signed up to write postcards to voters in different places around the country, simply encouraging them to vote. My dozen postcards won’t make a big difference in an electorate of millions, but they make a big difference to me. This is something good I can do to pass on to future generations.
What do you want to give to future generations in good condition? What can you do to help bring that about?
Audrey Novak Riley is director for stewardship for Women of the ELCA. The feature photo is of the postcards she is filling out for Postcards to Voters.
For most of us reading this website, Women of the ELCA is something important that we want to pass on to future generations in good condition. One good way to help do that is to join Faithful Friends, our automatic monthly giving program. See welca.org/faithfulfriends for all the details—and please join today.