At the end of my work day, I frequently talk to a lady who is starting her’s. She cleans part of the office building where I work. She’s a nice grandma, who has some leg and joint pains which I pray for when I remember. We’ve talked mostly about the weather. I wish I could say we praise the Lord together, but we’ve done that only three or four times so far. Mostly we chat about little things.

I haven’t asked her about political issues or pushed any serious theology into my statements. I did ask her if she would watch the presidential debates and when she would vote. She caught a bit of the debates, I think. They don’t say important stuff in those things, you know. She voted yesterday.

I don’t think I told her last week about the multi-congregation service I attended the last October Sunday. I sang in the choir, barely using the music because the notes to sing weren’t all printed. We had to pick it up by ear. The pastor, who teaches at the church from which most of the choir came, said he felt he had left Obama territory for McCain territory, judging by the bumper stickers in the parking lot. Some choir members who were over my shoulder murmured a bit of affirmation to the soon-to-be president elect.

I laughed a bit. It didn’t bother me to disagree indirectly with them.

I don’t know that I heard anything from Obama on the campaign trail that I agreed with. I don’t think I have hoped for a moment that he would keep his word on a certain campaign pledge. I’ve even accused him of lying to us, like Bill Clinton did in his campaign and in office. Obama seems like a nice professional, but I really don’t know him. I don’t know if his cool exterior hides a wicked heart, and I shouldn’t assume it does–beyond theological terms.

But today, I talked to a woman who thanked the Lord when she heard Obama would be our next president. She almost cried too.

That softens the political edges for me. I don’t know how many, if any, of his stated policies she approves. She may not have thought through the issues. But a black man will serve (Deo Volente) as the 44th President of the United States. And she’s a black woman.

That isn’t colorblind, and it isn’t a good reason to vote for anyone. But it is a good reason to give respect to whom respect is due and honor to whom honor is due. I can’t demonize someone I respect.