Preparing Ourselves for Life After the Election
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
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Questions to ponder:
- What does it mean to restore the island of sanity within my own soul?
- What does it mean to restore islands of sanity with those I am in close proximity to?
- What does it mean to restore islands of sanity within my spheres of influence?
For me, restoring islands of sanity means…
1. Quieting myself from the noise of this moment by disconnecting (or minimizing) my use of social media and compulsive news watching.
2. Restoring my soul by spending time in the cleansing grounding presence of God.
3. Looking for and enjoying beauty around me, even in the midst of the chaos.
4. Slowing down and being fully present to those God brings in my path and within my social circles.
5. Listening well to others and offering wise counsel when asked.
6. Finding ways to humbly serve others wherever I am.