Thank You, God, that I live in a country where I can vote in peace and safety.  Despite my impatience as I stood for more than an hour in line at the advanced polls, I couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like for people who risk their lives to cast a ballot.  

Thank You, God, that I was permitted the freedom to choose.  I may not have sided with the majority this time around, but my vote was still respected enough to be tallied instead of tampered with.  I had my say.  For that I am grateful.

Thank You, God, that I live in a country where the same party doesn’t rule perpetually for decades.  That would come with a whole other set of worries.  The pendulum of political popularity continues to swing, and I’m not sure that is entirely a bad thing.

Thank You, God, that You oversee the rise and fall of kings and rulers according to Your purposes.  If You could use Pharaoh in the days of Moses and later King Cyrus of the Persians to bring great glory to Your name and carry out Your plans, I will dare to pray, Lord, that You work Your ways and will for our nation through this new leadership.  Help me to guard my heart against that enslaving bitterness and hatred the anti-Harperites fell prey to.  Help me to rise above such irrationale vehemence and find a repose only possible by resting in Your sovereignty.  

Thank You, God, that on Tuesday morning I still awoke a citizen of the greatest nation on earth (in my humble opinion), but infinitely more important, a citizen of Your Kingdom.  May the latter shape how I respond, how I pray, and how I live through the changes sure to come in the former!

O Canada 

by Robert Stanley Weir (1908)

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western Sea,
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western Sea,
Our own beloved native land!
Our True North, strong and free!
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.