Voices Crying Out In The Night

Several days following the November 3 election, I received a phone call from a distant relative. The moment I heard Mary’s voice on the other end, I detected something was wrong. After exchanging pleasantries, I asked her what was so troubling. Even though we hadn’t spoken in a while, I know that voice, delicate and calm, but now sounding disturbed and uncertain. She asked, "Bob what makes you think I’m troubled?" I responded, "Mary, it’s me." 

Mary was hesitant at first, there was a brief momentary silence that I felt should not be interrupted. She resumed and said "Bob, I don’t want to burden you with this, but I know you and that you understand, and what a good listener you are." I said "Mary, I think I know why you’re calling and what’s bothering you, and that you can be assured you are not alone in your disappointment and fear of what might lie ahead."

She said, "On election night, I made it a point of staying up long after my usual bedtime, and when I did decide to turn in, President Trump was ahead by hundreds of thousands of votes." There was a sound of frustration in her voice as she continued. "Even though I was gladdened by the news of a Trump victory and four more years, I felt uncertain, something in the back of my mind told me to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. And so I lay there for hours staring into the darkness, and waiting impatiently for morning and possibly bad news."

Mary went on to say that over the past four years, she regretted having become a cynic, and came to believe that the Democratic Party will do or say almost anything, even lie and cheat, to achieve power. She continued, "When I woke up after that restless night, the sun brought with it all the expectations of a new day, and hopefully the same good news of the night before. But I dared not turn on the radio, television, or phone, I just knew, and can’t explain how; things in my world had turned upside down over the hours."

There was that silence again, only this time I interrupted, and said "Mary, 75 million Americans probably experienced the same feelings that you have. When we’ve spoken in the past, we usually agreed on most matters of a political nature. And I guess, as before, it would be best to try and ease your anxiety and fear, and tell you that everything will work out."

I stopped briefly to consider what I would say next, and decided to speak the truth as I see it. "Mary," I said, "That would be sugarcoating what I believe could very well be a harmful and disastrous four years ahead for this nation. America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, the religious freedom that the early settlers to the new world sought, and the Founding Fathers who sacrificed their lives, liberty, and sacred honor for this nation, and most especially the sanctity and dignity of life are being threatened." I continued, "Biden has already indicated his agenda and path forward, to reverse President Trump’s policies and his achievements that ensued."

Mary listened and at some point, her voice, almost in a whisper, asked God to help us. She continued, "What can one person do?" I said, "Speak out whenever the opportunity arises; letters to the editor in your local periodicals, become active in politics, and show support for your political representatives. And even more important, pray for guidance and ask God to protect America and her people, and that He speaks to the minds and hearts of those who will assume power, and that He instill in them the virtue and values essential for a government and people to excel, and it is these qualities that are indelibly written into the Declaration of Independence and Constitution."

Mary thanked me for listening and providing her with some measure of assurance that we will get through this. I ended our conversation by saying, "We are Americans, the spirit lives within each of us; if not, then at least 75 million of us." And then I said, "Mary, America’s fate over the centuries I believe was preordained, and that divine providence has set before this nation and people the path we will take, and no one, a president, party, media or culture can divert us from that course."