Liturgy As We Wait for Election Returns
Guest Writer: Karen DuBert
Oh LORD, hear us when we pray.
Hear beyond our pleas for victory, security, and comfort.
Hear the beat of hearts fearful of a catastrophic outcome:
Fear of everything “the other side” will do—should it win.
Calm our nerves.
Breathe peace into our imaginations.
Remind us that countless past elections predicted dire outcomes
(Generated by frenzied media) which never came.
Whether we fear the spectres of socialism, communism,
Fascism, dictatorship, or white supremacy
—instil in us Confidence in You.
Though we’ve been told this world “is not our home”—
This planet is our responsibility, our one job.
Entrusted by You, Almighty, Ancient One,
You empowered us to protect our planet and one another.
But we chose ourselves:
How untrustworthy we have proved to be
In our care of one another and this precious earth.
With lavish resources You blessed us:
Gifting scientists, farmers, artists, scholars.
Teachers, doctors, mothers, and fathers—
All to sustain Your creation-gift:
To enrich the earth and sea around us and care for each other
All of each other.
Now we face an election, certain that “the other side” is
Hell-bent, destructive, selfish, irresponsible, and ultimately evil.
So we succumb to fear that focuses on what we stand to lose:
Fear that our entitlements will be stripped,
Our merit lost in a sea of injustice.
We dare not ask You to spin this election or that our candidate win,
Rather we accept that our lives
Are a reflection of many imperfect choices—
Our own and others—
What, together, we have made of this world-gift.
It may be that our candidate will win—
Or the other side may triumph.
Let us not attribute it to Your will
When clearly we are the voters.
Show us how to lean in and learn from the outcome—
From either outcome: left or right, success or failure,
Good or evil, war or peace.
You are the Life-Heart of All Things.
Not us, not a candidate,
Not a single politician or policy maker: You.
Until we Rest in the Reality
Above our petty elections and turbulent history,
We will not know our Life-Heart
Or Your design for putting us here.
Teach us the Stillness we need
To know You are God.
Amen
Karen DuBert
Joanna Seibert joannaseibert.com