November 7, 2024

Today, based on the release date of our newsletter, is November 7th, I write this reflection on Wednesday November 6th, with knowledge of the Election Day results and who our 47th President will be.

Because the election results were not those I hoped for, I struggled falling and staying asleep last night (Tuesday). It was because of a combination of shock (but not surprise), deep disappointment, some grief, and feelings ranging from concern to fear for the future of this country and the world.  However, I also wondered, publication deadline notwithstanding, “what shall we say to these things (Romans 8:31a)” on the morning after an election whose outcome differed from one I, and perhaps many of us, had hoped for.  

It is often “at such a time as this (Esther 4:14)” that I turn to Scripture. Several texts ran through my mind in my pre-dawn my sleepless state, all of which I believe could speak to this moment. Yet one that has grounded me in the past few days and continues to do so is Psalm 146:

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

  I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

 Do not put your trust in princes,

  in mortals, in whom there is no help.

 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;

  on that very day their plans perish.

 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

  whose hope is in the Lord their God,

 who made heaven and earth,

  the sea, and all that is in them;

who keeps faith forever;

   who executes justice for the oppressed;

  who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;

  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

  the Lord loves the righteous.

 The Lord watches over the strangers;

  he upholds the orphan and the widow,

  but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

 The Lord will reign forever,

  your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord!

Dear Central Atlantic Conference, no matter last night’s outcome or what the future may hold, please remember the following from the words of this Psalm. Our help is in God. Our hope is in God.  The psalmist specifically locates our help and hope in the God of Jacob, whose steadfast love put up with Jacob’s shortcomings, chased after him, wrestled with him, and ultimately blessed him in ways he never imagined. Our help and our hope are in the One who created heaven and earth, the One who watches over the stranger, the One who upholds the widow, and the One who lifts those who are bowed down - on any day – for any reason .  The Psalmist reminds us not to put our trust in princes, or for that matter Presidents, Vice-Presidents, congressional members, or state and local officials. We are reminded to always put our trust in the One who the Psalmist declares will reign forever, our God, for all generations, including this one. God’s got this. God’s got us.

May we, together, in show of unity in a deeply divided nation, rely on the love of God. May we model that Love made known to us in Jesus Christ. May we follow Jesus in the way of that Love regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, class, physical or mental ability, or perhaps especially in this moment, political affiliation.  May that Love inspire and compel us to work together as the Church for justice, famously described by Cornell West as ‘what love looks like in public.’ May we remember, in the words of Catholic theologian Richard Rohr, that we live in a ‘Christ-soaked’ world, which includes everyone in it, even those with whom we disagree. May we as a Conference come together in faith, loving one another, upholding on another, and lifting one another up.  if we do, I am firmly convinced that Love will see us through - today, tomorrow, and in the days to come.

Blessings and peace,