The region where I live recently held a “hotly contested election”.  While the candidates fired up their voting base and attacked one another, bulk-rate political ads printed on large card-stock filled our mailbox. 

As campaigns progressed and the ads piled up, I considered how I might repurpose them.  I considered wallpapering a bedroom but decided against it because I didn’t want to scare the grandkids when they come to visit.  I pondered how I might press the ads together to create building materials for some home construction projects.  Ultimately, I tossed them in the recycling bin.

Finally, the day following the election arrived.  I’m pretty sure my mailbox smiled at me as I opened the flap and pulled out a couple of letters, and no political ads.

It might be a little dramatic to refer to this post-election phenomenon as the “calm after the storm”, especially since the outcomes of elections can usher in new anxieties (such as run-offs and recounts).  Still, I am struck by the change of tempo and intensity we experienced after the votes were counted.  It reminded me of Christmas as months of shopping, preparation and gatherings give way to returns, leftovers and big credit card bills.

I am not suggesting any of these things are inherently evil.  I’m sure the postal service appreciates the business at election time, and candidates certainly need to counter the messages of their opponents.  In like manner, merchants depend on Christmas to balance their ledger sheets.  I am merely highlighting one aspect of human nature.   When our hopes and dreams hinge on a single date or season, we throw all of our energy into the process. Then, when everything comes to an end, we rest and evaluate the outcome.  If the result is negative, then the ads, tinsel and credit card bills become a sour reminder of our unfulfilled desires. 

Few things sting more than unmet expectations.  Therefore, as we shake off the remnants of one season and prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, consider how a few key points might help us come away with our hearts and minds intact. 

Remember, man-made outcomes are always subservient to the will of God.  In other words, God reigns supreme in everything.  This doesn’t mean we should throw up our hands when life doesn’t go the way we had hoped and say, “it must be God’s will.”  Many things that happen in our world fall outside of the will of God, and as His people we should continue to look for ways to promote kingdom values.  On the other hand, if we strive to honor God and still encounter defeat, we must trust He will honor our faithfulness.  God gives us opportunities to make a difference in the midst of adversity.  This means that instead of giving up, we pray, “God show me what to do now.”  It’s healthy to admit our disappointments but we don’t have to embrace despair.   

Secondly, intensity is temporal, but truth is eternal.  Some people call it “hype”.  The energy we invest to draw attention to our causes can be effective.  But after the dust settles, and the hype has subsided, the substance of our effort remains.  If it doesn’t then we can rightly say our message was “all hype.”  But truth doesn’t dissipate like the morning mist.  It stands whether others recognize or embrace it.  Psalm 33:11 reads, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”  The Broadway character Annie sings “The sun’ll come out tomorrow, so ya gotta hang on ‘til tomorrow, come what may.”  I love this song and others like it, because it expresses hope in the face of tragic circumstances.  My ultimate hope is in the One who makes the sun come out tomorrow; the One who holds me as I hold onto Him.  Therefore, I want to build my life on His Word and manage my expectations based on His promises.  I may still get discouraged and angry when some earthly outcome I wanted doesn’t occur.  However, I not only trust in the sovereignty of God, but also the eternal nature of His truth.  I am confident the things that are true and right will survive the darkest night. 

Finally, the right expectations will help us endure seasons of disappointment.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  I believe when we decide to participate in something important, we should have high expectations.  Coaches don’t prepare their teams to lose in the closing moments before a competition.  They inspire them to win!  If we approach a holiday season with a “woe is me” attitude, there is a good chance our experience will align with our expectations.  I actually think there is a place for “hype”. It is exciting to be a part of something big, and to experience it with others of like spirit.  But we still need to clarify our expectations.  For example, if an election result runs counter to our wishes, we can remember the political process, win or lose, is a means to promote our values in our community.  If we are experiencing loss or broken relationships during the holidays, we might be drawn more dearly to the narrative of Christmas and the love of a Creator who wants to walk with us through every situation.  Being surrounded by friends and family is a holiday tradition, but it doesn’t have to be an expectation.  Jesus, the Son of God, spent the first Christmas in an animal shelter with the smell of manure wafting through the room.  And he was placed in a manger.  Have you ever seen a real-life manger?  They are filled with straw, cobwebs, animal snot and saliva.  This is the kind of birth God planned for His Son, but it certainly wasn’t what others expected. 

Unfortunately, we live in a culture prone to hype.  This puts us on a perpetual roller-coaster of emotion.  Perhaps the sudden absence of political fliers in our mailbox will remind us to keep it all in perspective.  God still reigns, truth still stands, and we still possess what is most important.

And now there is room in our mailbox for the next round of fliers; The ones that count the days until Christmas.  Oh, but wait!  We still have Thanksgiving!  Where have all the Thanksgiving fliers gone? 

I have yet to see one.