From the Gospel of Matthew:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Biblical yes, but intelligible to believers and non believers alike. And brought here, I humbly suggest, as a useful lense in this election season, for the believers and non believers.

We will, all of us, see the candidates differently as we gaze through this lense from our different vantage points on our different journeys.

Each of us will have to discern for our many selves what the actions of the candidates suggest about the candidates themselves. This is tough going in this age when many stories are told but few endure the tests of time and of thoughtful consideration.

Being a believer, I will pray for wisdom for all of us in this discernment, for surely we will eat the fruits of the trees we nurture this election cycle.

Shanti, y’all. Shanti. #stopthelies #voteyourvalues