“We know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3–5, Message)

Next month we get to choose our president. It’s a privilege to vote and it’s also a privilege to offer to serve your local church, school, community, state or nation. Whether it is your local school board, city hall or president you won’t someone that possesses great virtue.

Good character or virtue is the most important issue of a presidential campaign. More so than policy, plans or party. Virtue determines the choices a president makes. It determines what a president will pursue, how determined he/she will be to achieve success.

A virtuous leader will recognize that their plans and policy will go through many changes before it becomes a law or before a Supreme Court nominee becomes a justice. However, we the people can depend upon that leader, based upon their past leadership, to be truthful and lead as they said they would. If they suffer defeat they do not become petty, vindictive and try to conquer by dividing. Instead, they suit up for another day and another challenge and seek to persuade and build a coalition to do what’s best for the nation.

Character is taught; we aren’t born with it. Facing the challenges and difficulties as we mature, serve and invest our lives in others the lessons we learned of love, honesty, good judgment, wisdom, courage and self-control open us to more and more of God’s grace.

President Theodore Roosevelt, was one of my childhood heroes. I read everything about him. He was sickly and frail, but he fought hard against his weaknesses. Later in life he would write these words. “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory or defeat.”

What are you seeking to do that is glorious with your life?

What is your candidate choice for president seeking to do that glorious with their campaign to become the leader not only of the United States but the free people of the world?

What failures, trials, hardships have you experienced that has strengthened your character? What lessons did you learn?

What troubles have shaped your candidate choices and national vision? What have they learned?

What is the platform of the party you support? Why?

It’s your choice!

Peace