Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.  Without a doubt, this has been a hotly contested campaign season in which both sides have heavily utilized negative campaign tactics—each declaring the other to be liars.  And yet, as of last night, poll figures indicated a virtual dead heat in the presidential race.

Clearly this election is on most Americans’ minds and is viewed by many as a defining moment for our country.  Everyone is weighing in—one way or the other. It would be euphemistic to say that passions are running high.

As I browsed Facebook yesterday, I once again saw postings from some of my Christian Science friends that were, to be frank, anything but Christian—hurling vitriol either against President Obama or Governor Romney.

Is this really where we want to be?  Is this really the posture to be taking?

Now, I’m in no way suggesting that one doesn’t evaluate the merits of each of the candidates’ positions on the variety of issues that confront our nation and vote accordingly.  But should we be adding our mental activity—which should be spiritually-minded—to the polarization that has engulfed our nation?  To the polarization of ideological positions that have paralyzed our Congress and political leaders from working together for the greater good?

When I was the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Massachusetts, I would occasionally get phone calls from some irate members of our church about one political issue or another.  Often they would be targeted against President Obama—especially during the national discussion of health care legislation.  I remember one caller downloading her hatred and racism against the president in an extremely agitated manner.  To say that I was vigorously praying as to what to say to defuse and uplift this individual’s thought would be an understatement!

Finally, I told her that I often wondered what it would be like to be the president seeking to make momentous and right decisions for the welfare of our country and the world, while being mentally malpracticed by so much of the population.  Under such a constant mental attack of hatred and wrongful influence, how could we expect him—or any president—to be able to clearly hear and discern the spiritual solutions that are needed?  The solutions that God is imparting to us all.

The caller became immediately quiet and the mesmerism that she was operating under—the animal magnetism that was the source of the hatred she had voiced—was stilled.

Most Christian Scientists know these following two quotes from Mary Baker Eddy:

I am asked, “What are your politics?” I have none, in reality, other than to help support a righteous government, to love God supremely, and my neighbor as myself. (Miscellany, p. 276)

and

Pray that the divine presence may still guide and bless our chief magistrate, those associated with his executive trust, and our national judiciary; give to our congress wisdom, and uphold our nation with the right arm of His righteousness. (Christian Science versus Pantheism, p. 14)

Sage counsel, to be sure, and ones that we simply can’t afford to ignore.  Ones that demand our continued spiritual alertness and vigilance—so easy is it to be drawn into the conflagration of mortal passions.

No matter who you’re planning to vote for tomorrow, we need to each first be casting a deeper vote—one which necessitates a primal question.  Are we electing to support the carnal mind’s activity of hatred and polarization in our consciousness or the divine government of God’s love?

I’m voting for God.  What about you?