I voted at 6:30 this Tuesday morning, at the end of my walk on the levee. An hour earlier, I slipped my driver’s license into my jeans and donned my glasses so I’d be able to read the ballot. A classroom at John Curtis Christian (elementary) School is our site. Usually when I walk in, there might be one or two other voters. Today, I stood in line with maybe 30 in front of me.

Our Baptist Center on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans is the polling place for a number of precincts that were put out of business by Katrina three years ago. Today, our auditorium boasts 24 voting machines. When I arrived at the office at 8:30, several lines stretched outside the building and across the lawn. I estimated 200 people were waiting to vote outside, and perhaps nearly that number inside. Incredibly, down the street a block, the Episcopal Church, also a voting place for several precincts, was just as crowded.

The Times-Picayune this morning ran a couple of pages of photos of citizens, identifying who this one is, what he/she does for a living, where they live, and whether they are voting for Obama or McCain. After glancing at it, I went back and checked. Sure enough, every African-American was voting for Obama and every paleface was voting for McCain.

At my voting place this morning, I was struck by the heavy percentage of African-Americans in line. This part of town — the community is River Ridge — is thought of as majority-white, but it certainly did not look like it this morning.

I think it’s great. I’m delighted that the voter turnout today may end up being as high as 80 or 90 percent. It’s about time, is all I can say.

I’m a chronic voter. I vote when the only thing on the ballot is to renew a millage for the library or flood control. I vote when only 10 percent of the electorate bothers to show up. (At those times, I smugly claim that my vote counts 10 times as much as normal!) I do believe in voting.

The first presidential election I voted in was 1968 when I was 28. That sounds late, doesn’t it? In those days, you had to be 21 to vote, and in 1964, we had just moved to New Orleans to attend seminary. I’d not registered here, so did not chime in on the contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. In ’68, I voted for Nixon over Hubert Humphrey. Voted for him again in ’72 over McGovern, but came to regret that vote after the discoveries we made of the character of the man. Or lack of character.

This morning I voted for McCain. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out my preference if you read this blog. On the other hand, I’ve not actually said so until now. Some of our most faithful readers and dearest friends are Obama supporters, and these things are not issues between us.

Actually, I wasn’t thrilled with either choice as I stood inside the curtain this morning.

I like McCain, but realize if he is chosen — no one expects him to be elected, let me say right now at 10:50 am, Central Standard Time — he will necessarily put into positions of leadership some of the same people who have run things (ruined things?) for the past 8 years. That’s depressing.

So, why did I vote for him? Because a president appoints justices to the Supreme Court. Appointing Alito and Roberts to that court was Bush’s best acts, for my money. And, I’d sure love them to have a little more company on the bench. Some conservative company.

There’s much to like about Obama. I do not agree with those who see him as a liberal nut, but am not sure what to expect from him if he is elected. I find myself desperately hoping that my friend Chris, the female-type Boston lawyer (and dear sister in Christ) who frequently interacts with us in the “comments” section of this blog, is correct in her assessment that he is a great guy and can be counted on to do the right thing. Her sister has been one of Obama’s lieutenants throughout the campaign and their family has known and supported him since he was a lesser politician back in Illinois.

I told someone this morning that I voted for Bush twice and have not been thrilled with his leadership. So, if it turns out my guy does not win today, I will pray for Obama and ask God to guide him in doing the best things for this country.

You can’t buy a parking place on the street in front of our building. It’s been that way all morning. The polls in Louisiana open at 6 a.m., but Freddie Arnold, who camps out in a guest room in the back of our building a few nights a week, says people were pulling up in their cars to get in line at 4 a.m.

Here’s a sobering thought for you….

Generally, something like 50 percent of the electorate participate in presidential elections in this country. But in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln first ran, 80 percent of the registered voters took part in the election in the northern states. (I don’t know the percentage elsewhere.) To get to the sparse voting places, some citizens had to travel for days.

That’s my kind of folks, the ones who value their privileges as citizens and take their responsibilities seriously.

“With great price I bought my citizenship,” said the commander of the Roman legion at Jerusalem said to Paul. The apostle answered, “But I was born free.” (Acts 22:28)

You, too? My, how blessed you are.

What are you doing with such a gift?