40 Days

September 24, 2020

We are forty days away from the 2020 presidential election in the United States. I don’t think that it is hyperbolic to say that it is the most contentious campaign season of my lifetime. Each day seems to bring with it a new twist that adds to the tension, anxiety and even anger.

Forty days has significance in many of the world’s religions. In the Christian tradition, Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights before being tempted by the devil. The season of Lent is 40 days not including Sundays during which we prepare our hearts and minds for the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of prayer, fasting and introspection.

It occurred to me that as a Christian pastor, it would be helpful for me to prepare in much the same way for the upcoming election. To be clear, I will not be praying for a specific outcome. Rather, my time will be spent preparing my heart and mind for how I will respond to the outcome. As a person of faith, how will I lead in love?

Many of you have asked about the status of my book on politics and religion. Those who know me really well know that I suffer from paralysis by analysis as well as a bit of a perfectionism. While I have been writing a lot about the subject, getting it to book form has been, well, let’s say, a challenge!

Over the past couple of years, I have tried to lean into the adage, “something doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective.” With that in mind, over the next 40 days, I will share some of my foundational thoughts for the book (maybe 40 days of discipline will get me closer to my goal of a completed volume!)

I will begin with this thought: Despite the contentiousness, I believe there is a large group of us who are far less divided that many would want us to believe. My writing starts from that premise. I seek to find common ground from which we can create a preferred future.

Again, if you are inclined, I invite you to join me on this journey.