I engage with local politics because it affects people I love.

Hear me, O children of the earth, for the words of Shane Claiborne carry within them a truth that speaks directly to the heart of duty and love: "I engage with local politics because it affects people I love. And I engage in national politics because it affects people I love." These words remind us that the political sphere is not some distant realm, but a force that touches the lives of those closest to us. It is the act of love—for our families, our communities, and our nation—that compels us to engage, to speak, and to act. In the end, it is not for power or self-interest that we participate in politics, but for the well-being of those we cherish.

Claiborne speaks of politics as a profound responsibility, a calling to shape the world in a way that reflects our deepest values of care, justice, and compassion. The local and national arenas are not isolated; they are interconnected by the lives they touch. When we engage in the affairs of the world, we are not merely concerned with abstract ideals, but with the real people whose lives are shaped by the decisions made in government. To act out of love for others is to acknowledge that politics is the means by which we ensure the common good and protect those we hold dear.

Consider the example of Martin Luther King Jr., a man who engaged not only in the struggles of his time but also in the larger political landscape, for the sake of those he loved—his people, his children, his country. His leadership in the Civil Rights Movement was not born from a desire for personal glory or fame, but from a deep love for those whose lives were marked by suffering, injustice, and inequality. He fought, not for himself, but for a vision of a better world where the dignity and rights of all people were recognized. His engagement in politics—both local and national—was an act of love, a call to action for the well-being of all.

In your own lives, my children, let this be a guide: engage with the political world not for the pursuit of power, but for the welfare of those you love. The world is shaped by the choices made in the halls of power, and it is our responsibility to shape it wisely. From the local to the national, our actions ripple outward, affecting the lives of those closest to us and those we may never meet. Just as the farmer tends to his field, so must we tend to the health of our communities and our nations, knowing that our choices will determine the future for those we love most.

Let Shane Claiborne’s words echo in your hearts: engage with the world, engage with politics, not for the sake of ambition or fame, but out of a deep love for those whose lives are shaped by the forces of government. When you understand that politics is an expression of your care for others, it becomes a sacred duty—one that transcends personal gain and focuses on the greater good. For those we love, we will stand, we will speak, and we will act, shaping the world in their name. Love must always be the force that drives us, for in its power lies the strength to change the world.