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This week, we held our elections. Everything from the local dog catcher on up to our congressional representatives. And predictably, some folks are ecstatic, and others not so much.
So, it seems to me, we've got two choices. We can either perpetuate the agonizing political divide with some more of the same. Or we can take the opportunity to heal the divisions of the past decade or so. Because it really does come down to a choice for each of us.
In the week leading up to this election, I found myself at multiple public events; some big, some not so big. Our mission's annual fundraiser, a college football game and the preceding tailgating experience, church and our women's group's annual auction, etc.
All told, I was surrounded by thousands and thousands of people during the past week. And you know what I didn't hear? Political rancor.
No one at these events were heatedly debating the upcoming election. They were just enjoying being in community with each other.
I don't discount that there is an unhealthy focus on the seeming political divide among us. After all, just turn on the TV or scroll through social media posts.
But, interestingly, when you get people together, face to face, I don't hear it come out. Rather, what I do hear is a collective Body of Christ that yearns to connect with fellow human beings.
I once heard another pastor discuss his views on how to coach people through being in relationship with people you love who may have differing political views.
He taught me that his basic litmus test was, "Will this matter in four years?" ... And when you weigh your political disagreements against that standard, it makes you wonder if the heated disagreements are worth it. Is this argument worth losing your loved one?
Don't take this to mean that I don't think our elections are important. Who represents us does matter. I just believe that we let it matter too much.
I've written this before, but it does not matter who's in office for us to follow and obey Jesus' Greatest Commandment, which is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. That's absolutely free and readily in our control.
It's imperative that we stop seeing those with whom we disagree as the "other." It allows us to dehumanize them, and then we don't have to care for them as fellow human beings.
Trust me, my days are already filled with serving those in our society who know what it's like to be dehumanized. Nothing good comes of it. Amen.
Devlyn Brooks is the CEO of Churches United in Moorhead, Minn., and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com.