A God for the Living Dead: Healing in the midst of an Elections Hell!

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father [Parent], who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NRSV)

 

I love November in New England!  Halloween is over but the autumn colors are still with us and the cooler weather have us spark up the fireplaces; Veteran’s Day is mid-month, then we have Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent, which ushers in the Season of Giving and Love.

Especially this November, not quite sure about you all, I can’t wait until Election Day comes and goes. Finally…done!  This awful election season will be over. Or will it?

We will wake up, no matter who wins, with a shocked and angry reaction by half the country.  For the first time in recent memory, there is talk about mobilizing the National Guard to prevent any uproar in our streets by an upset electorate. In all the rancor and ugliness that have been the marks of this presidential campaign (immigration, threats to fight to overturn marriage equality, and overt and covert racism) people are truly afraid of the results. Reacting as if our streets are about to be taken over by the Walking Dead; Zombies in despair and in disbelief causing havoc of terror on our streets. People staying home, trembling with fear instead of celebrating the election of our new president.

Let us remember, even if it feels like the “wrong” person is elected president and we are tempted to become part of the Walking Dead, God is with us!  God offers RESURRECTION if we are willing to find ways to end all this fear, anger, and hatred towards one another. Our salvation is not dependent on a new President, Congress and/or the Supreme Court. It comes from God through our faith, hope, and love as taught to us by Jesus, the Immanuel: the God with us.

So don’t despair if “your” candidate doesn’t win. It means we have an opportunity to begin the healing of a broken and wounded country. So Church, let us focus on the “good work and word”. May the healing of Christ begin!

 

Prayer: Dear Holy God, of many names and no name, use us at this moment to bring peace and love to a broken and wounded world.  Let the shine of Christ be our guide and your Spirit our strength, in Jesus name we pray.  Amen.