We may vote differently, but we have some very common struggles

​I'm going to say something that might appall some people. It may even cost me some friends. But this week, I've had an ongoing virtual conversation with an old high school friend. In a few weeks, this friend is going to vote for someone different than I'm going to vote for.

Now, here comes my big I'm on my knees confession: at the end of our conversation, very much like when the conversation started, I think the world of this person.

I suppose that's because when I think of this person, I don't picture the presidential candidate she's supporting. I support a friend who has devoted her life to working in social services. I picture a friend who is married to a man who has devoted his life to educating and coaching young people. I picture a friend who has raised three beautiful kids, all of whom have gone on to serve our country in brave and beautiful ways.

I didn't finish our conversation praying that she'll change her mind about who she is going to vote for. I finished our conversation in prayer for her grieving heart. This friend recently lost her dad - one of the kindest and most generous men I can I recall from my childhood.

You see, the reality is, as much as we want to de-humanize people by their voting preference, all voters are struggling through some very human struggles. As much as I see all sides wanting to accuse the other sides of being heartless, this world is as full as ever of people looking to mend their very real broken and hurting hearts.

The declarations have been mounting this week.

"If you're voting for this person, then you are this."

"If you're voting for this person, then you can't possibly consider yourself to be that."

"If you're voting for this person, please just disappear from my life."

In many ways, it makes me very sad. It makes me sad to see us so broadly screening people out of our lives instead of spending some time digging a little deeper into the hearts of the lives we're screening out.

Because I have to share another shocker - completely from my own experience - there are a lot of people out there who are far more glorious and magnificently complex and creative than the Donald Trump or Joe Biden masks we want to imprison them with.

In other ways, though, this all reminds me to be very grateful. I've made some choices in my life, I've hung out with and supported some questionable people in my life - to this day I continue to cast votes for directions in my life that on the surface would paint me as something less than who I truly long to be.

Yet, there he is. There's Jesus. Right there beside me. Paying little attention to who I've voted for, paying little attention to the mistakes I've made. There he is, far too committed to loving the person inside me to be appalled by the appalling person I too often appear to be.

There he is, much like he was when he walked this earth, not asking me who I'm going to vote for, but instead exploring all the spaces of my heart for one more place to pour out his love.

I'm grateful for the chance to have explored some of those spaces myself this week. In doing so, I experienced love and connection and unity. The cultural momentum we're all being sucked into would tell us those spaces aren't there, not in "those" people - don't waste your time looking for them.

Well, it's my experience - that might be the fakest news of all.