I dread those years with five seasons. There are the four standard ones, of course -- Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. But every now and then we get stuck with Election Season that invades each of the others, often spanning years. In the US, we may have political parties, but there's little to celebrate.

Here are the gifts of Election Season: rage, hate, lies, greed, pride, dissension, division, disunity, fear, distrust, disrespect, condescension, recklessness, selfishness, belittling, name-calling, arrogance, disappointment, hopelessness. People focus not on what they need, but on what they want. It is a time when even Christians may redirect their gaze in search of a new messiah.

There's an interesting passage in the Bible that applies to all this: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

Have you ever heard of people in government behaving like that? What about their assistants, advisers, employees, campaign directors, volunteers, contributors, or supporters? And for those of us who are purely righteous and always stand for truth and integrity, we can rise, point at them, and declare, "Ha! You're not getting into the kingdom now!" Right?

Those who live like this doesn't mean those who lived like this, but who are living like this. And what is "this" anyway? Must it include everything? Is it OK if we only live in fits of rage or sexual immorality -- if all we have is selfish ambition or envy for the lives of others -- as long as we don't have the rest of it?

There's a bit more to that passage: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26

Feel the tension? God first tells us, Don't do any of this! And yet, deep in our hearts, we yell at Him, "But they did it first!" Then He replies, Let them see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Don't be conceited. Don't provoke. Don't envy.

This isn't about Election Season or people involved in government. Live by the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit is for all of us, all the time, in all that we do. This is God saying, Focus on me, not anyone else. As Jesus once told Peter, If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. (John 21:22)

Fruit does not exist for the benefit of the tree, but to nourish others. There is no election or government, no company or business, no human endeavor more important than allowing those who hunger for His love to be nourished by the most excellent fruit He can grow in your life.