It’s officially Election Day, November 5. I woke up at 3am and could not go back to sleep. I fear doing this but feel compelled to do so. I will post this and will not check this post again on election day. Thanks to David W. Swanson for giving me some of the words I am feeling and for the courage to say them. I have borrowed some of his language but do not claim to fully represent his views. He only got me half way there. So, here’s where I stand, plain and unvarnished.
I believe Donald Trump is toxic and will do damage to our democracy and bring harm to some of our most vulnerable neighbors. I cannot in good conscience vote for him.
Also, people I love will vote for him. I understand some of the reasons they are. I’ll still love them.
I believe Kamala Harris is misguided in some of the most essential elements of our humanity and design for human flourishing. I believe this will do harm to the unborn and to our social fabric. I cannot in good conscience vote for her.
Also, people I love will vote for her. I understand some of the reasons they are. I’ll still love them.
(As much as I would love to chose between truth and love, as I understand them, Jesus won’t let me.)
I know this post might trigger people who are committed to either of these candidates. I don’t relish that. And I am not going to take an inordinate amount of time defending my position on Nov 6 when I come back on social media. I just feel I need to say it.
The Day After the Election: Emotions and Actions After the Election
What will the day after the presidential election be like for you? For our nation?
According to the polls – if you believe the polls – there is a high probability that we won’t know who the winner is. But whenever the eventual moment comes and a winner is declared, then what?
In all probability, allegations that the election was not fair will start flying. That idea, of course, has been sown in the ground for many months. “Another rigged election!” some will rage. Perhaps litigation to contest the election. But can we trust the results of those cases in an era of mistrusting all institutions?
But above all of this noise, what will your emotional state be the day after the election is declared? Despondent if your side lost? Gloating if your side won? Or worse. Accepting civil unrest and violence as the price we must pay?
Because I am a follower of Christ, my chief concern is how Jesus calls me and other espoused Christ followers to respond and conduct ourselves. I do not want to be among the gloaters, the ragers, the violent, or the despondent. I hope to retain my spiritual and emotional equilibrium. I hope to be rooted in my steadfast calling that remains the same on November 4, 5, 6, 7… That calling is to follow the Prince of Peace to continue to work for the shalom of my neighborhood, city, nation, and world. Included in this calling is to refuse to dehumanize or demonize others, including those whose political sensibilities are radically different and even offensive to me. I will continue to pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray. It’s such a powerfully perfect prayer, and one we need to pray and ponder deeply today and in the coming days.
OUR FATHER (Father of us all – progressive, conservative, somewhere in between) in heaven,
hallowed be your name, Your reign come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the Kingdom, power, and glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Beyond Election Winners and Losers: A Call for Reflection
If you believe that if your side squeaks out a win in the U.S. election sweepstakes that all will be well, you probably need to think a little deeper. No matter who “wins” this is a time for deep soul reflection. It matters not whether you are progressive or conservative or somewhere in between. What are the lessons to be learned in this moment? What are the adjustments that must be made? Another word for this exercise is the old fashioned biblical word, “repentance,” which literally means to change the way we think and act. And there is plenty of that needed no matter what camp one tends to identify with. In fact, it’s so much harder to see where one’s own camp needs to repent. It almost requires a miracle. It always requires humility. And sometimes that comes only through great pain.
In fact, it’s so much harder to see where one’s own camp needs to repent. It almost requires a miracle. It always requires humility. And sometimes that comes only through great pain.
Reflection Exercise: Turning from our wicked ways
A familiar verse that is often invoked by conservative Christians is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which reads:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The phrase that is often aimed by conservatives at their theological and political foes is the phrase: “and turn from their wicked ways.” The danger of aiming this verse outward rather than inward is that produces blindspots to our own wicked ways.
For a more fulsome reflection, ask God to reveal to you particular “wicked ways” that show up across the political spectrum. Are there wicked ways that might tend to be more present in progressive camps? Conservative camps? Or even in moderate camps? What wicked ways might be most present in the camp you tend to identify with? Can you see them, name them, and turn from them?
As I write this 2.0 version of Restoring Islands of Sanity the outcome of the U.S. presidential election is still being contested. Leading up to the election we all witnessed how divided and polarized our nation is. Perhaps we even imbibed in a little of that political rancor ourselves. And for those of us who are Christians, we likely witnessed the Christianized version of these deep divisions as they manifested themselves within the diverse Body of Christ. Red and blue do not often relate well in the political sphere; they also don’t seem to mix well in the Church.
As we continue to wait for the election to be called – and even after the election is called – we must all choose how we will respond in this season. Will we add to the toxicity of this moment by fueling more polarization or will we serve as peacemakers who seek to promote understanding and advancing the common good? To do the latter rather than the former, we will need to prepare ourselves to be the best kind of people we want to be in this season. What follows are steps that I am taking to prepare myself during this waiting period and for life after the election. My hope is that some of these steps might resonate with those of you who are reading this blog.
First, I want to search for ways to restore islands of sanity in a world of chaos. Recently I read a book by Margaret Wheatley entitled Who Do We Choose To Be? Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity. The book is both bleak and hopeful simultaneously. One metaphor that Wheatley uses is the idea of exerting our best leadership to “create islands of sanity.” Of course the islands are vulnerable to the wider sea of chaos but they can also serve as a witness that there are alternatives to the wider maelstrom in our world. Perhaps people looking for a different path will see these islands, find respite there, and be inspired by what they encounter (see further thoughts on what restoring islands might look like at the end of this blog post).
I still would like to see the wider world change but rather than despair in what I cannot control I find some measure of hope in working toward islands of sanity that present an alternative to what we are witnessing in the world.
Second, I am going to take a social media break. I am going to be doing a 30-day detox from social media. I can tell that my soul is worn and weary and social media has not been a nourishing source but a depleting one. It’s time for a break from being triggered by – and triggering – my Facebook friends. I need a period to cleanse my emotional palate. A helpful guide that I will be following is outlined by Cal Newport in his book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Anyone wan to join me? I’m planning on starting on Sunday, November 8.
The admonition of the prophet Isaiah feels timely to this moment:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Third, I am going to shift my focus from the large and distant to the small and the local. When we debate large social issues and engage in heated political campaigns it is easy to fall prey to fear, anger, and a proneness to demonize those who disagree with us. But if we shift our attention from the large and the distant to the small and the local we can reset our spiritual moorings and recalibrate our human kindness to those who are in close proximity to us. Fear is often cultivated at a distance but love can best be expressed locally, even with those with whom we disagree.
Fourth, I am praying that God will prepare my heart to be an agent of healing and true shalom. One thing is for sure following this election, we will be a nation in need of healing. Are we as human beings, as American citizens, and members of the Body of Christ, prepared to work for the healing of our nation no matter who wins the 2020 presidential election? I am praying that God would prepare my heart to work for healing and true shalom in our communities, nation, and world.
There will be winners and losers in this election cycle. Am I prepared to be a gracious loser or a gracious winner? Jesus calls us to be salt and light in the world. Will my saltiness be a corrosive variety that uncaringly rubs salt into the wounds of my neighbors or will it be a healing agent carefully administered with a heart of love?
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16
It is almost certain that the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election will not be determined for days, weeks, or perhaps even months after election day. Baring a miracle, that means days / weeks / months of serious political rancor (at best) to serious social unrest (at worse). What has been weighing on me the past few weeks above all else is how I – and my fellow citizens, especially my brothers and sisters in the Christian community – will choose to respond whatever the outcome of the election is. I think we need to begin to prepare ourselves now. I know that I do. What follows are steps that I intend to take to prepare myself for life after election day – for the period of waiting for a winner to be declared, and for life after the winner is declared. My hope is that some of these steps might resonate with those of you who are reading this blog.
First, I am going to take a social media break. I am going to be doing a 30-day detox from social media. I can tell that my soul is worn and weary and social media has not been a nourishing source but a depleting one. It’s time for a break from being triggered by – and triggering – my Facebook friends. I need a period to cleanse my emotional palate. A helpful guide that I will be following is outlined by Cal Newport in his book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Anyone wan to join me? I’m planning on starting on Sunday, November 8.
The admonition of the prophet Isaiah feels timely to this moment:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15)
Second, I am going to shift my focus from the large and distant to the small and the local. When we debate large social issues and engage in heated political campaigns it is easy to fall prey to fear, anger, and a proneness to demonize those who disagree with us. But if we shift our attention from the large and the distant to the small and the local we can reset our spiritual moorings and recalibrate our human kindness to those who are in close proximity to us. Fear is often cultivated at a distance but love can best be expressed locally, even with those with whom we disagree.
Third, I want to search for ways to restore islands of sanity in a world of chaos. Recently I read a book by Margaret Wheatley entitled Who Do We Choose To Be? Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity. The book is both bleak and hopeful simultaneously. One metaphor that Wheatley uses is the idea of exerting our best leadership to “create islands of sanity.” Of course the islands are vulnerable to the wider sea of chaos but they can also serve as a witness that there are alternatives to the wider maelstrom in our world. Perhaps people looking for a different path will see these islands, find respite there, and be inspired by what they encounter.
I still would like to see the wider world change but rather than despair in what I cannot control I find some measure of hope in working toward islands of sanity that present an alternative to what we are witnessing in the world.
Fourth, I am praying that God will prepare my heart to be an agent of healing and true shalom. One thing is for sure following this election, we will be a nation in need of healing. Are we as human beings, as American citizens, and members of the Body of Christ, prepared to work for the healing of our nation no matter who wins the 2020 presidential election? I am praying that God would prepare my heart to work for healing and true shalom in our communities, nation, and world.
There will be winners and losers in this election cycle. Am I prepared to be a gracious loser or a gracious winner? Jesus calls us to be salt and light in the world. Will my saltiness be a corrosive variety that uncaringly rubs salt into the wounds of my neighbors or will it be a healing agent carefully administered with a heart of love?
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Jesus in Matthew 5:13-16
A Prayer for the Election by Rev. James Martin, S.J.
Loving God, I ask you to guide me during this important election season:
Help me to understand the Gospels, in which Jesus Christ reveals his path of love, mercy and compassion, especially toward those who are poor, sick or struggling in any way. Instruct me on what the church teaches on the important issues of our day: abortion, racism, migration, war and peace, health care, the death penalty, economic justice, care for the environment and on all those questions that I must ponder with your help. Enable me to form my conscience so that I may vote wisely.
Loving God, I ask you to help me to live peacefully with others:
Allow me to be open to the opinions of others with whom I disagree. Fill me with a spirit of charity toward those who may oppose me. Give me patience in times of struggle.
Loving God, I ask you to help me stand with those who are marginalized or persecuted:
Increase my courage so that I can stand up in times of danger. Create in me a new heart that I might be brave in times of turmoil. Make me someone who is ready to care for, advocate for and suffer with those on the margins.
Loving God, I ask you to aid our civic leaders:
Grant them good health and a spirit of wisdom. Open to them paths of reconciliation. Teach them your ways of love, mercy and compassion.
Loving God, I ask you to bless our nation:
Crown it with your compassion. Support it with your care. And nurture it with your love.
