It was bound to happen. For months (really a year) I have danced around the topic of who I want to see as our 45th President. I've been asked countless times whether it be on social media or out on the streets by local news outlets on who will get my vote next month. Ok, really this month (I am going to be working at the polls with my boyfriend on election day). My vote hasn't been an easy decision. Allow me to explain.

Throughout my life, I have been a Democrat. My parents, grandparents and dear friends have all sided with the donkey. I was one too. My first election in which I was able to vote for president was in 2008 when I voted for Barack Obama. I didn't vote for him because he was black and I wanted to see someone who looked like me in the White House. The main reason I voted for him was because of the education policies that he promised to a college student like me and how having my college education would open the doors for job growth in this country. It would give people like me. People who weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth and weren't blessed with the best of healthcare insurance, education programs or to grow up in a household where saving money isn't a priority.

Well, what a difference 4 years made. Although President Obama made some progress from 2008-2012, there were things that I wasn't still happy when it came according to my post college life. So, like any curious person does, I went over to the right. I became a Republican and voted straight Republican in the 2012 ticket. Voted for Governor Pence, voted for Mitt Romney and even voted for former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard. America had just came out of a hard recession and everyone was on pins and needles on cutting back on spending. There were issues that were troubling me (and still do) that I couldn't wrap my head around.

You could imagine the taunting that I have been through these last 8 years. Intense debates on my Facebook page, having to block and/or unfriend people who were really nice to me all because of where I stood on a topic. People even unfriended me on Facebook when I interned at Mayor Ballard's administration-it was me that started the Facebook and Twitter pages for Indy's top official.

Here's what I learned in my brief political stances-some people are going to be right, some people are going to be wrong. You will have allies, you will have enemies. If there is a topic that is going to affect me in the future, I will state my beliefs and my opinions on the matter-if it doesn't, then I'll continue to form my opinions, but I won't be as sharing to do so.
...which leads me into this election season. It has been billed as a real life, unscripted reality show. And the winner of this strange competition, who will take over 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue come January 20, 2017? I know the answer.
The person who will reside at the White House will be the person that God sees fit to be in the position as president. Before I head to the polls for early voting, I will pray and ask God who will be the right person to be our next Commander in Chief. I am not coming out and saying that either Clinton or Trump will have my vote. I was reminded by this recently at a prayer rally that occurred. Franklin Graham (yes, the son of evangelist Rev. Billy Graham) told a crowd of thousands that before we look at the person, we need to take a look at the state of America. America is in failing health. From racial divides to national security, America has become the laughing stock of the world. This was not the America that I was taught as a child in history classes. This wasn't the America that my grandfather defended in World War II and that my daddy fought for in the Vietnam War. This America is gasping for air in all of this drowning noise that has impacted her.
And so it is. Just has it has in the past, it will be my faith that I choose affiliation with come this election season. Not just in 2016, but in all of the elections that will be occurring from here on out. I'm going to close this post by quoting from my all time favorite book, the Bible.
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”‭‭-2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭