Restoring Islands of Sanity

Preparing toWin or Lose Gracefully

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.

Amen.