Here we are on the eve of another presidential election night. There is a real fear that our union as Americans will be stretched too far and our tensions will erupt in violence. How do we be in this tense time as religious and spiritual people?
Consider this approach from a colleague who said, “no matter the outcome of the election and the resulting reaction, I am convinced it is the curriculum that Jesus wants us to follow to grow.” Appreciate the non-dual way of viewing an event that has us casting a vote. Even if our candidate wins or not, the result is the curriculum WE need to grow in the love and faith of Christ.
This wisdom caused me to reflect on the gospel. Notice when Jesus faced reactivity in his day that he responded thoughtfully in interesting ways:
+ When the woman was caught in adultery and faced her accusers, Jesus bent down wrote something in the dirt and confronted the crowd “the one who has no sin cast the first stone.”
+When accused of breaking religious sabbath laws, he asked questions that reminded the authorities that God is a God of healing, wholeness, forgiveness, and mercy.
+When pushed to the brink of his own life and death, he went away to a lonely place to pray.
Jesus’ response to reactivity is to stop fueling the fire, reflect, and stay connected in loving relationship with God.
It is like Jesus viewed the conflicts he faced as the curriculum for spiritual growth and maturity in relationship with others. The disappointment, frustration, and fears that froth up anger are actually what is needed to help us recognize our need to need to grow as the beloved children of God.
It is so challenging to be human. We tend toward summarizing issues into either or, right/wrong, good/evil, if this/than that. When we do this, we generalize, and our assumptions take over curiosity, loving presence and we cut off from others.
My colleagues point is if what happens IS our curriculum then there is no us/them. And I am reminded of my sweet husbands voice singing the U2 lyric throughout the sermon at our Episcopal Convention in Kansas last year, “there is no them, there is only us.”
Canon Lisa Senuta from the Spiritual and Religious Blog of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
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