This election year has caused my mind to travel back to 1980. I was in the fifth grade and Ronald Reagan was running against Jimmy Carter for president. This was the first year I became concerned with politics.

We had some great fifth grade teachers who decided to let us conduct our own mock election. Cedar Bluff Elementary School in Cedar Buff, Virginia became quite the political hotbed. I found myself being educated on the issues by listening to my father discuss the election with other men. I remember the adults would come over to our house after church, and soon conversations would turn to the election. I remember my dad being very passionate about his stance. This passion influenced me. I have memories of losing my temper more than once at school. I guess you could say I had not learned the art of having a civil debate. You could also say I bore a strong resemblance to Dennis the Menace, both in looks and mannerisms.

I grew up in a small town where many of the men my dad pastored were members of the Coal Miners Union. Needless to say, it was not easy to be a Republican in that area of Southwest Virginia. Our town was very near to the West Virginia border, which was one of the few states Jimmy Carter carried. My dad and I were fighting an uphill battle in those Appalachian Mountains.

As strange as it may seem, I was less confused back then. To an eleven-year-old, bucktoothed fifth grader, there were only a few issues that mattered. To me, killing babies was wrong, the federal government should not be able to take hardworking people’s money, and we needed a strong army. As it turns out, a lot of Cedar Bluff fifth graders felt the same way. I am sure that, in the adult world, to narrow things down to three simple points was juvenile. I am sure the politicians of my childhood probably got wrapped up in scandals, mudslinging, and so on, but somehow I was able to stay true to the simple things. I simply trusted Mr. Reagan.

I am now forty six years old and my children are registered voters. I am encouraged when I hear them discuss elections. I am glad when they watch the debates, and I am amazed to find that they seem to be guided by similar, if not the same thoughts, that have given me guidance since the fifth grade. First, all human beings have a God-given right to life. Secondly, smaller federal government and more emphasis on individual state government is better for the people. Finally, we should seek to preserve peace through strong defense.

As a fifth grader in Mrs. Kanoad’s class, I had no idea President Reagan would impact the world like he did, but I sure was thrilled when he won the election. Also, apart from big hair and Rod Stewart wannabees, I enjoyed growing up in the 80s. The future looked brighter back then. The truth is, I wish my young adults were looking into the future with the same sense of hope that I had.

I now have the privilege of influencing the lives of several young and older adults. I exhort all who may read this post to take courage. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. I close with this: 2 Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”