With such a diverse population sharing the earth’s surface, the emotional climate at election time can run high. As issues are articulated, positions taken, and lines of opinion are drawn, citizens can feel caught in the crossfire of a mental battlefield—feeling alienated, outnumbered, angry, depressed, vilified, or misunderstood. One’s hope for harmony in the world, progress for humanity, and an enlightened way of life may appear to be in peril—dependent on those we believe have the power to make or break lives, if elected. 

Yet, right when confused or fearful thoughts threaten to tyrannize our hope and goodwill, we have the God-given ability to disconnect from such fears and gain the peace that an understanding of God’s harmonious government and our place in it can provide.

The master Christian, Christ Jesus, never swerved from his spiritual purpose to awaken thought to the allness and sovereignty of God. He taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3), which to me means, “Happy are those who have the humility of heart to put aside their human opinions, fears, and assumptions, and express the pure, spiritual affection that enables us to gain clearer views of man and the universe as governed by God, not man, and as harmonious, rather than divisive.” 

If we are truly poor in spirit, we are always ready to accept this spiritual model of God’s creation. We begin to see that as the reflection of God, our thoughts can reflect only His thoughts, and express goodness, mercy, and love, thereby manifesting on earth “the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven,—the reign and rule of universal harmony …” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 208).

Under the reign of Spirit, man is guided by divine Principle rather than human personality, which can err or control another either for good or bad. This divine Principle rules with Truth and Love, benefiting and blessing all mankind, not just a select number. Every idea of God, under His rule, expresses and is blessed by His utter goodness, His incorruptible, indivisible nature, free of the evils of partisanship, bias, discrimination, or factionalism. 

Mary Baker Eddy writes: “Let us remember that God—good—is omnipotent; therefore evil is impotent. There is but one side to good,—it has no evil side; there is but one side to reality, and that is the good side” (Christian Healing, p. 10).

Under the reign of Spirit, man is guided by divine Principle rather than human personality.

Polarization is the result of people personalizing good and identifying specific individuals as either the enemy or the champion of good. Yet a focus on personality never gets us closer to putting our faith and confidence in God’s government. When someone tried to attribute personal good to Christ Jesus, calling him “Good Master,” he replied, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:17, 18). Jesus recognized that genuine, enduring goodness, and a human government that reflects that goodness, do not emanate from good people, but from the divine Principle man reflects; otherwise, goodness would be variable, and live or die with a person. 

No matter how much adulation, divisiveness, or hatred Jesus was presented with, he bowed only to God, whom he unfailingly recognized as the only source of power and the governor of all. When Pilate tried to assert that he had the power to set Jesus free or allow him to be killed, he countered, “Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). 

His declaration of the unassailable sovereignty of God was breathtaking in view of what was at stake. Jesus not only understood that God alone lovingly and effectively governs His creation, but he proved it, ultimately overcoming the hatred of his opponents and rising from the grave, showing they had no actual power over him.

A loved hymn, the words of which were written by Mary Baker Eddy, says: 

Whatever tyrannical thoughts or fears claim to be governing us or disturbing our peace, at election time, or at any time, we can take a mental stand, recognizing divine Love’s ability to raise up seed—to lift thought above the discord of mortal thinking to the understanding that God can and does govern His own creation harmoniously, including each of us. 

We are reminded in Science and Health: “Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government” (p. 393). As the idea of God, the self-expression of Mind, man and woman reflect Mind’s governing qualities of intelligence, wisdom, and love, and through the understanding of this truth human government patterns the divine.

As we consistently acknowledge that God alone governs His people, we find ourselves turning from an excessive attraction to, and concern about, political opinions and personalities. We gain more dominion over our thoughts and feelings. 

An authentic and dependable faith in God’s all-power, and an understanding of His spiritual, perfect man, settle into our daily living, and we perceive God’s love for His creation and His perfect government of it—the kingdom of heaven, which Christ Jesus promised was already within us. Greater patience, brotherly love, and peace take the driver’s seat of our thought. 

This frees us to be of service to our country and the world even while we discuss issues with others, and as we vote on election day. In this way, we take our place as spiritual seers and doers. This is good for everyone.