OK, it’s time for me to make a confession to you. I hope it doesn’t shock you or disappoint you. If it makes you angry, I trust you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

OK, here it goes . . .

I was once a Democrat.

Wow, that felt good to tell you. I just had to get it off my chest. In fact, that was so freeing, I’d like to tell you more: I was raised a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. When I was a kid I hardly knew Republicans even ran for public office. My family only voted Democrat. And–here’s the real kicker: I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976!

Yes, can you believe it? I did–and with gusto! And, as a Christian–supporting a Christian. It was Jimmy Carter’s unabashed profession of being “born again” that recruited me to his cause. I was sure back then you couldn’t go wrong with a “born again,” Bible-believing, Sunday school teaching, Southern Baptist.

Then, I became a Republican.

In fact, I registered as a Republican after I heard Ronald Reagan address the National Association of Evangelicals convention. I was deeply moved by his spirituality and religiosity. I stayed  Republican for 30 years.

Then I became an Independent, because I felt the Republican establishment was taking traditionalist Christians for granted. I also needed some distance from the partisan bias–and to look–and more importantly, to pray–free of the political pressure.

Then, I endorsed Mitt Romney (in my new status as an Independent) and I feel very good about that, but probably not for the reasons you might think. Well, that’s for another post. For now, I just feel better having made my confession–even if it was a political one.

Rob +