PRAYERS AMIDST GOVERNMENT CUTS, CHANGES, AND CHAOS

Over the last month we’ve received a steady stream of prayer requests related to the changes wrought by the new administration in Washington. Uncertainty, fear, and a sense of chaos seem pervasive for a lot of people. The prayer requests call for reason, reconciliation, and some way to find hope when the future seems so bleak.

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Pastor Travis and I have been discussing how we can best provide some framework to deal with the despair, fear, and hopelessness that many are experiencing. We’d like to offer three things to think about as the daily news washes over us.

First, we need to address our REACTIVITY. Emotional reactivity is a function of our most basic response mechanisms – flight or fight. Our brain stem – our lizard brain – is reactive. When a threat is perceived we either fight the threat or flee. This is the part of our selves that responds immediately to every situation with pure emotion. We become scared, or angry, or withdraw into ourselves.

REACTIVITY is nurtured and sustained if we can connect with others who have the same emotional response. Social media exacerbates this tendency as we scroll through our various feeds seeing more things that evoke our emotions and find more people doing the same thing. This is the “light your hair on fire” stage of dealing with things.

REACTIVITY never solves anything. As the book of James notes: You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20). We need to slow down and think. Before we act, the reptile brain needs to give control to the frontal lobe where thought happens. (This may be why counting to ten when you get angry helps). We need to, in Peter’s words, give our fear to God. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

To control our REACTIVITY, we should limit social media, only access news once a day and use sources that are balanced. Remember that many new outlets, especially TV, depend on making you react so you watch the ads. It’s about the products they sell not the truth the share.

Second, if we rationally believe that the government is heading in the wrong direction, that injustice is happening, we need to think about RESISTANCE. Helplessness feeds hopelessness. We are not helpless. We can make our voices known to leaders, but we need to be smart about this, not reactive. Signing on to petitions on social media or liking or reposting opinions will not accomplish anything.

A former senate staffer recently shared that emails and social media comments will never be seen by a candidate or member of congress. Letters will rarely be seen. What matters is phone calls. The staffer recommended that each day you make six calls – two to each of your senators and representative. Share your zip code when you call and be specific about your concern. Where you call from and what you addressed are noted and reported. So, each call should address one concern.

RESISTANCE also happens when you get involved. If you are deeply concerned about the elimination of USAID, a long-standing program that saves children from starvation around the world, then you can give and work to replace that lost aid. Non-profits and church organizations will, no doubt, be called upon to fill the gap created by this draconian measure. The ELCA World Hunger Appeal, Bread for the World, and Lutheran World Relief are all ways to resist that move to promote starvation.

RESISTANCE includes working to elect leaders who will work to feed the hungry and have compassion to those in need. It includes getting involved in feeding the hungry – perhaps by working in our food pantry! RESISTANCE will no doubt, at some point call you outside your comfort zone. Our comfortable lives will need to be interrupted to make something happen. Our Lord taught us this when he took up his cross.

The third action we can embrace in this time of chaotic change Is RESILIENCE. We cannot lose our hope because of the trials produced by the world. This is not a prescription for you to find ways to manufacture hope. It is a statement of fact. Hope is a gift. Paul said it this way: “…we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) 

RESILIENCE comes when we remember the story of God’s history with God’s people. Slavery led to Exodus. Exile led to return. The cross led to resurrection. God will not fail us because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8).

Our God has revealed in Christ that injustice will not stand forever, oppression cannot last. Hatred must give way to love, and greed will be overcome by generosity.

In these troubling times, do not be REACTIVE, but instead RESIST the powers that work against the reign of God in whatever way you can. Be RESILIENT because God has given you hope.
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Pax Christi,
Tim Olson, Lead Pastor
 
 
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