A Pastoral Note on the Upcoming 2024 Presidential Election

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.

--Matthew 6:34

Next Tuesday is election day. I know that many of you are feeling overwhelmed and frightened. That is a completely reasonable and understandable place to be. I write to offer some pastoral counsel for how to make it through these coming days of uncertainty. And to do that, I need to recall the pandemic.

During the pandemic, I came nose to nose with my own limitations as a person. There was a huge problem which dominated my days and I knew for a fact that it was beyond my power to control. For quite a long time, I was vaccinated, but my young daughter was not eligible to be vaccinated. There was no set of tips or tricks that would make that problem go away. So what did I do? I ate yogurt with fruit and granola for breakfast for many months. I prayed the same prayers at the same times every day. I set time limits on when I would read the news.

Did these solve my problem? No. But they made my life manageable.

In my head, I called these things "pandemic protocols." They were ordinary, day to day practices to keep myself spiritually grounded. I didn't follow them forever, but I held these disciplines during a period of time when I was at the mercy of great events of the world and I still needed to make it through the day.

Next Tuesday is election day, and I know that many of you are frightened and overwhelmed. I offer you gentle counsel to institute some "pandemic protocols" of your own. Or let's call them "election protocols." Decide on one hour -and make it no more than one hour- during which you'll allow yourself to read the news or scroll social media. Schedule times in the morning, in the midday, and in the evening when you will pray. I would recommend Psalm 23, Psalm 46, and the Lord's Prayer. Come to church this Sunday to commemorate All Saints, be held by the sturdy words of tradition. Remember that our hope rests on God eternal for whom even death is only a passing storm.

Unsurprisingly, Jesus said it better than I can and with fewer words. 'Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.'

Yours,

John Edgerton
Senior Minister
Old South Church