Today, arguably the most important election we will see in our lifetimes comes to a conclusion. The winner will be decided by a matter of electoral votes and tomorrow each of us will have to play the cards that have been dealt to us.

Today, on my way to the polls, I was given a stark reminder of the differences in the two candidates running for the presidency. While driving to the polling place, I drove past a large number of local candidates -- each hoping that his/her wave will convince me to vote for them. There they stood by their signs; hot coffee in their cups and a comfortable lawn chair in which to sit and perform their waving duties. All except one.

While many were perfectly comfortable in their lawn chair and a warm coat, I witnessed one candidate -- who was vying for an open state house seat -- occupying his time in a far more productive manner. He looked up from his shovel just as I passed by and gave me a nod and a slight waive with a large callused hand. This man, not satisfied with just sitting there and looking pretty for a photo opportunity, had brought a shovel to his slice of the roadway and was clearing away weeds that had found their way through the cracks in the sidewalk! This was not even his property... he had just noted that it needed to be done.

This candidate had just earned my vote by showing me that his hands would not be idle when it came time to do his work for the people. As I cast my vote for this working man, I realized that my vote for the president should be no different. I want to vote for a man who takes pride in his work... a man who will not sit idly by as the needs of the nation scream for his attention. I want my president to be one who will pick up the proverbial shovel instead of the literal golf club. My president needs to have calloused hands caused not by a basketball, but rather a wooden-handled shovel. When it comes time for security briefings or budget talks, I want my president physically present, not just voting that way. Calluses or callousness.... the choice is ours. This gives a whole new meaning to the term "shovel ready" doesn't it?