I’ve got to say, I don’t envy the job that politicians do. The pressure of needing to do a job well, maintain public approval (after all that’s how you keep your job), sitting on committee’s where decisions are made once everyone is convinced (necessitating the need to debate and bicker at times), fielding complaints from people who aren’t happy about what you are doing and rarely hearing appreciation for your work, needing to be careful what you say to media in case you get misquoted, and above all working at everything knowing that in a few years you could be booted out of office and the next person could undo everything you’ve worked hard for! No, I don’t envy the job that politicians do.

Yet, in most cases, those who serve in public office are doing what they do in the full knowledge of what they are getting into. Doing so because they have a desire to make a difference, are not content with sitting on the sidelines, and have a vision for something better. Granted, there are those who enter politics because of their attraction to power, and they will do anything to maintain “public approval” in order to maintain their tenuous hold on that power. Tenuous, because in a democratic society, power is something that is never guaranteed, or at least ideally so. Rarely, will the politician who is in their profession solely for power and privilege, last long.

The leader’s of our community are usually not in people’s minds that much unless things aren’t going well. Isn’t it true that when our street get too many potholes, or we get the property tax bill, or we have to start paying for garbage disposal then we start wondering about those people who serve on council and grumble about their incompetence? Yet, we rarely appreciate all the things we take for granted that they (and all the public staff on city payroll who do the bulk of the work in carrying out the directives of council) are working diligently on to ensure our community stays healthy.

Today, I’m reminded to be thankful for our community leaders. I may not always agree with their decisions. We may not see eye to eye on faith issues or ideology. Certainly, I will carefully, and prayerfully, consider where I place my vote in municipal elections! Nevertheless, while they are in office, I must pray for these leaders. Their job is a tough one and a very often maligned one. They need our prayers even though there may be some in office who don’t believe in prayer. We must pray that God would grant them wisdom to make the right decisions, and courage to carry those decisions out. We must also take time to consider ways that we as citizens of Hanover can contribute to making their jobs easier: maybe by occasionally sending them a note of thanks when they do a good job; or by responding when council calls for public feedback on an issue.

Imagine the difference it would make, if every Christian in our community prayed regularly for City Council and Staff! Imagine the difference it would make if every citizen our community took some time once and a while to contact a councillor or the mayor to thank him or her for what they do!

To our mayor and council and the city staff. Thank you for your efforts towards keeping Hanover as the “place to be”!