Dear Ones,

I originally wrote this column on Nov. 3rd, election day. It felt a little anticlimactic to be writing on a day when so many people I know have voted early, either in person or by mail.

Now, here we are, on Nov. 4th, the day after, with results in several key states too close to call. We know, though, that an enormous number of people have voted to keep the current administration in office. It’s disheartening to put forth so much effort, as so many of us in this congregation and community have; and then see legislators who have campaigned on, and voted for, evil acts be elected and re-elected.

We don’t know when we will see actual results from this election. We don’t know how many challenges to the results there will be. We do know that there is much healing to be done – and organizing for the aftermath, whatever the final results may be.

A colleague of mine posted this perhaps-familiar quote, often attributed to The Talmud, though it appears to be an interpretative “mash up” of commentary on Micah 6:8 from various sources.

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

Healing is our Soul Matters theme for this month, and this coming Sunday we’re going to turn toward that theme, taking a break from the news and the election. While I’ll be mostly leading the service, we will have a guest in our virtual pulpit, writer Joanne Nelson. You can read more in a separate article.

Thank you for being here, for being part of this Fellowship, and for staying connected! I love you. We will get through this. Keep breathing and stay safe, everyone.

Blessings,
Rev. Lori Hlaban