Those were the words I heard on the other end of the phone from a woman in East Tennessee today. She is 76 years old, and is unable to vote tomorrow. Not only homebound, but confined to her bed, she has missed the deadline for absentee mail-in ballots and cannot vote.
Another woman in Nashville said she's going to be unable to vote because she just had surgery last week, and is still recuperating. (Although, after a second call to tell her she can't absentee vote, she said she may be able to get a ride to the polls if she's feeling up to it.)
A 23 year old woman said she doesn't plan to vote tomorrow. She just doesn't feel like it.
The East Tennessee woman was perhaps most heartbreaking for me, because when I told her I was calling on behalf of President Obama and Organizing for America, she said, "I so appreciate what you're doing. It just makes me sick what they're trying to do to him. I fully support our President and what he's doing. I just wish I could vote."
I asked her to pray.
At a chili supper this evening for one of our state legislative candidates, Sam Coleman, I was reminded by the candidate that the outcome of this election is ultimately in God's hands. "You have to win," I told Sam. His leadership style, passion, dedication, and vision is a stark contrast to the kind of shenanigans we've seen this year from the Republicans and all their anonymous donors with their third-party attack ads.
"It's in God's hands," he replied. This wasn't a campaign ploy or some kind of ham-handed Elmer Gantry moment. Sam is the kind of man who, in uncertain times, leans on his faith and trusts the process. It's a faith that comes from knowing that a cause is just and that you've done all you can.
So, have you done all you can?
In 24 hours, it will be over, except for maybe a couple elections in Alaska and Hawaii.
Make sure your cause is just.
Do all you can.
Volunteer.
Vote.
I'll be driving voters to the polls tomorrow.
What are your plans for the day?