Now what?

Here we are.

On the other side of the most divisive presidential election I’ve ever known. Remember how many of us couldn’t wait until it was over?

Well, it’s over.

So now what?

There has been much hand wringing, weeping and gnashing of teeth. There have been protests (some violent), suggestions of assassination, heartbreak, rage, fear and hopelessness.

Some bemoan the remaining glass ceiling that was supposed to finally shatter when a woman was elected president. Others are now ashamed of their country, insisting the election results prove the US is full of people who hate African-Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, homosexuals, women, etc. Many are mourning the loss of a dream. Many now live in fear of what the future holds for themselves and their families.

So what do we do? What does God want from us at this critical juncture?

The same things He’s always wanted from us. And we probably need to up our game.

One of my dear friends preached an excellent sermon last Sunday. Somewhere in there, she said basically that on the other side of the election, our God will not have changed and our job while we’re here will not have changed.

So I say we take our job description and kick it up a notch, for such a time as this.

1. Don’t panic. Very few, if any, good decisions are made in a state of panic. If you need to protest, if you need to be heard, do what you gotta do. (But don’t break stuff or hurt people. Seriously.) Take a deep breath, remind yourself repeatedly of what is still true and let’s let things shake out for a minute. The dust will settle and we’ll all be able to see more clearly. And then we can find the best way forward. Don’t buy into the lies that anyone is marginalized or doesn’t matter. We all have a very important role to play in the immediate future of this country.

2. Mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). Even if you don’t completely understand why they’re mourning. Sit down next to them, shut up and listen. Grieve with them. Hurt with them. Don’t try to explain away their fears and despair. I repeat, do not try to tell anyone why his/her negative reaction is incorrect, inaccurate or unnecessary. We have all lived very different lives and our present realities are based on our past experiences. Let’s give each other some room to feel what we feel.

3. Stay informed. I, for one, am exhausted with this whole thing. I’m tired of their faces, I’m tired of their voices, I’m tired of the media picking sides instead of reporting the facts. It was an emotional grind for me. I did my part, made the best decision I could and am ready to stop talking/thinking about it. But God says I don’t get to. Once upon a time, I was a budding journalist, learning how to investigate and report without editorializing. As a result, I have a very low tolerance for when those I look to for the facts try to add anything else to it. I must relentlessly seek the truth and stand by it and for it.

4. Keep praying (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Those coming into power need more prayer than ever before. They need wisdom, clarity, justice, mercy, strength, humility. Only God knows the hearts of our newly elected officials. But I believe in common grace. And I believe that God will bless the efforts of His children as they obediently intercede for their leaders, as He commanded.

5. Protect each other. I recently heard someone say, “The opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s fear.” As I’ve written before, I believe fear is at the core of just about any negative emotion or behavior. We’re all afraid of different things and that is what makes us so mean to each other, so quick to declare each other enemies. Right now, many minorities are terrified of hate groups rising up and inciting violence and intimidation upon them and their families. And as Christians, we need to publicly, loudly and repeatedly proclaim that WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. We must come alongside each other, all races and religions, and demand an America where no minority lives in fear. And we must be willing to do whatever is required of us to protect one another.

6. Speak the truth IN LOVE (Ephesians 4:15). Yes, we have the freedom of speech, but that doesn’t give Christians the right to be jerks. Our calling is higher. I’ve heard so many people say so many things under the guise of ‘speaking the truth in love,’ when they really just wanted a pass to be an asshole. (Sorry, Mom. Sorry, sorry, sorry.) Paul said that you could speak the truest truth in the world and if it’s not done in love, it’s just noise. And that’s not what we need. More noise, more chaos, more confusion. Check your heart. If you can’t deliver the truth in love, just shut up.

7. Love your neighbor as yourself (too many references, basically the whole New Testament). And don’t give me that condescending “hate the sin, love the sinner” crap. That is not in the Bible ANYWHERE. We’re ALL sinners. And we’re all neighbors. So love. Love people with different beliefs, different backgrounds, different lifestyles, different ethnicities, and yes, different politics. Jesus even goes so far as to say, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). Uh-oh. That’s gonna be tricky. And that pretty much covers everybody, doesn’t it? Do not stand for discrimination in any way, shape or form. Don’t look the other way. Don’t act like you didn’t hear what was said. Love means action. And it’s time to reach across racial and religious lines and fight off the fear with love. Intentional love. In-the-trenches love. Get-your-hands-dirty love.

Reality is becoming more and more important to me. “Perception is reality” is absolutely true, and there are no two people in the world who can see things in the exact same way. We all have agendas. We all have a spin. We all see things through the lenses of our own lives.

Knowing that, I try to clear out as much of my junk as possible when I look at something (even though I can’t get it all), so I can see “whatever is true” (Philippians 4:8) so the “truth can set me free” (John 8:32).

This is a relatively new endeavor for me.

For a long time, I intentionally saw things as I wanted them to be. When I could no longer hold that gaze, I saw the way things should have been. I finally grew weary of looking back and looked ahead to the way things should be.

But now, I’m finally realizing that the most valuable and effective way I can see things is exactly how they are. Only then can I move forward with integrity and purpose. Only then can I pick the right battles at the right times.

So let’s look around, take a full honest assessment of our current situation. Look hard at the broken places and let that motivate us. Look equally as hard at what’s still beautiful, what’s still working and let that inspire us.

One of the most terrifying phenomena in the world to me is mob mentality. Those times when people come together for the wrong reasons, check their brains at the door and move into animalistic survival mode.

We’ve all seen it on TV. We’ve seen other people do it. But if I’m honest, I’ll admit that I’ve done it myself. I’ve been part of the angry mob. I remember my mind and reason shutting down and instinct taking over. And in the moment, it all made sense and I was validated by the rest of the mob around me.

In times of grief or confusion, a mob can provide a sense of security and unity. But we must use our brains. We are not in survival mode. Try to stay conscious of the opinions and emotions swirling around you. I know many who are taking a break from social media, for their own sanity.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

We need all the sound minds we can get. Guard yours carefully.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

The problems is, left to our own devices, we don’t have perfect love. We have flawed, well-meaning but unhealthy love. But thankfully, God poured out the Holy Spirit into His people. We just need to slide over and let Him drive.

And so we must love harder than ever before. Because the power to overcome racial and religious divides, the power to change our communities will not come from an order from the White House. It will come from the individuals who decide in their hearts then live out in their lives the reality that they want for their country.

So let’s up our game, everybody. Let’s do everything in our power to push back the fear in small, practical, everyday situations. Let’s create opportunities to build relationships with people different than we are.

Christians, let’s stop giving all our energy to playing defense and protecting our rights. Let’s proactively, ACTIVELY, step out into our communities and love loud and hard.

We have our job description. Let’s get to work.