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What are we to do?Dear Grace, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” - Psalm 146:3 (NIV) In an election where both parties felt the soul of the nation was at stake, inevitably half the nation would grieve the result, no matter who won. I know that many of you may be grieving. Let yourself grieve. It’s important for the well-being of your soul. And I know some of you may be rejoicing. Do it without reveling in your neighbor’s pain. That damages your soul. And some of you may just be numb or indifferent. Be curious as to what your soul longs for. Whatever the case, it is clear that our nation is ill. We are deeply divided, with no clear consensus on what’s true anymore. Distrust of institutions and expertise leaves many vulnerable to manipulation by the demagoguery of political opportunists. Millions of people feel economically and politically disenfranchised, that the system is not working for them. Political and cultural elites seem inept and ineffectual in addressing these underlying ills. Everyday people are looking for a savior and they vote accordingly. It may get worse before it gets better. So what are we to do? In the book of Mark, Jesus’ first words are: “The time has come. The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” He says this in the context of the Roman Empire, when things seemed grim. The emperor was considered a god, and the might of the Roman army was being used to subjugate and extract wealth for the benefit, not of the people, but for the empire. Political dissent was brutally suppressed. It was said to be a time of “peace,” yet people were constrained and oppressed. In this context, Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is at hand. There is an alternative. A paradigm not based on vainglory or exploitation, but one of dignity, freedom and love. Jesus was calling his disciples to live not in the empire, but in the deeper reality of God’s kingdom. The values of the kingdom of God subvert the values of the empire. Love your neighbor. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Visit the sick and those in prison. Love your enemy; bless those who persecute you. Attend to the log in your own eye before focusing on the speck in your sibling’s eye. Welcome the stranger and the outcast. Let yourself rest and rely on God, like a child in its mother’s or father’s lap. Be kind, merciful and filled with grace. These are hard values to live out. But when we do, however imperfectly, our world changes for the better. The wisdom of the biblical writings has always been: Do not put your trust in princes who cannot save. That wisdom would apply no matter who won this election. Neither Kamala nor Trump will ultimately save us. Now that the majority of Americans have chosen a new president, we have the opportunity to live more deeply into our faith. Now, more than ever, it is important that we gain strength from our community. To not isolate or withdraw. To not give into despair. To resist the values of the empire. To gather and sing, pray and feed our souls. Now is the time to become more deeply rooted in the kingdom of God. That may be the most hopeful thing we can do at this time. No matter who the president is or what political party is in power. I think Steve Garnaas-Holmes captures this in one of his reflections last week:
There are many who are not praying for peace—
May we learn to shine such light. Rev. Eric
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