Poo Free

Happy Ash Wednesday!  Every year I struggle to find something meaningful to give up for Lent.  I really admire the idea behind giving something up - to draw closer to God - to examine the practices and material goods we have become dependent on in our daily living - even if it's not done for religious reasons.  And so often I end up giving up on giving something up because it seems too difficult to find that perfect transformational experience. 

A few weeks ago I was kicking around the idea of going shampoo and conditioner free.  I had read several forums and blog posts about it and it sounds, well, at the least really interesting.  (There is a great article on how to do this at simplemom.net.)  Most of what I've read claims that your head will not become a grease pit, but that in fact you will have hair that is in the best condition ever.  (Hmmm, I am sort of vain about said hair.)  To sum it up, you wash your hair with baking soda and you condition it with apple cider vinegar.  How cheap and easy can you get?  And you aren't pouring horrible chemicals on your head and you help the environment?  No brainer.  

I brought it up to my knitting group (always full of wise counsel and up for good adventure) and they suggested I take the leap for Lent.  That way, I am giving it a fair shake but have an ending date if it doesn't work out.  I loved the idea immediately.

And then I got a little crazy.  There is so much good information out there about the dangers of the chemicals we use in cleaning our homes and our bodies.  Not only that, but there are really easy, cheap, and natural ingredients we can use as an alternative.  I went to the library and pulled out books with recipes.  I went to the health food store and went berserk.  I stopped at the grocery store and bought all the vinegar and baking soda they had.  (Just kidding...although I stocked up.)  I've already started mixing up my own laundry detergent.  Today I made fabric softener.  Two days ago I started using the oil cleansing method on my face.  (I'll admit, this one SCARES ME TO DEATH.) 

But I can't help feel like all these things are still just token moves, just drops in the environmental bucket.  And I need to find a balance.  I don't know where to stop.  For instance, yesterday I read a forum where women were exclaiming how wonderful reusable feminine hygiene products are and why don't all women use them and why would you want to kill mother earth by not using them and OMG when are you going to start using them?  It had not really occurred to me that I should be seeking an alternative and now I feel just horrible.  Am I literally going to have to go sit in a red tent every month now?  Every time I hear about something new, I can't un-hear it, and then I feel I have a responsibility to respond.  I can't eat my beloved Swiss Cake Rolls without feeling a tremendous amount of guilt because I just know that they are filled with things that are just HORRIBLE for me, not to mention the packaging.  Oh my lands, THE PACKAGING! 

I'm going to take a deep breath now. 

All better. 

But you see what I'm saying about this balance issue.  I want to try to live responsibly - in regards to the environment, our health, and the old pocket-book - but I also want to enjoy the good things in life (i.e. Swiss Cake Rolls) and enjoy my time here on this planet. 

At any rate, yesterday was Fat Tuesday and since it was my last day to shampoo, I lived it up.  Hope you did the same.  My hope is that if you are giving up something for Lent, it might be an enlightening experience. 

Gratitude Realized

How do I begin to tell you about my decision to resign a position I once loved and felt called to?  Where do I start?  Whatever I say here will seem so...so inadequate.  But I almost feel that I need to try to put into writing some sort of summary of the journey I have been through in the last year for my own closure.

On March 14, I informed my congregation of my resignation as Minister of Worship and Music at North Main St. Mennonite Church (and also as church secretary) with the intention of finding a new church home.  A painful and profoundly difficult day.  And here it is May 19 and I am staring my last Sunday as Minister of Worship and Music square in the face.  This Sunday will be the last time, in this role, that I stand on the platform and lead a hymn I love and look out at the faces of the congregation as they sing along heartily.  It will be the last time that I will play the piano for prelude and offertory and accompany the praise team - as a minister.  It will be the last Sunday that I enjoy worship, clothed in the role that I have learned to live in and embrace. 

And it really hurts. 

I don't think I'm ready to write about the process that led to this decision.  At some point I will need to.  It feels too raw at this time.  But I can say, happily, that my feelings toward this congregation have taken a drastic turn from what they were at the moment of my resignation.  While I am still secure in the knowledge that North Main is not a good fit for Brian and myself in the long run, my feelings of frustration, anger, disillusionment, and maybe even disgust, have all but been forgotten.  I now feel gratitude, love, regret, and affection.  I know that I will be able to walk away and things will have ended as well as they possibly could have.  And that's what I have desired all along - that this break would be as positive for all parties as it could be. 

At the beginning of April I attended a Mennonite Women in Conversation Retreat in Laurelville, PA that was AMAZING!  (The keynote speaker was the super-awesome Megan Ramer.)  The theme of the weekend was gratitude, always a topic that resonates for me.  And I realized in that weekend that I had not allowed myself to grieve the loss of my position.  Perhaps because I was the one to make the decision, and because of that I felt guilty.  What right did I have to grieve?  I'm the one who is hurting our congregation, people I love.  But I needed to accept the fact that I am allowed to feel sad, even if the decision was mine.  I also allowed myself to feel the fear of not knowing what is next for me.  What will I be now that this position that gave me so much identity is over?  And how will Brian and I survive without my income?  As I allowed myself to be present in these feelings, the floodgates of emotion just opened up.  That weekend allowed me to move towards healing, even as I journey through this mourning process.

A question in one of our sessions that weekend was how do we live in gratitude during times seasons in our lives where things to be grateful for are not apparent, where things are difficult?  And I made a decision to move through this stage in life with gratitude - whatever that means, however I can find it. 

So, I am grateful to have had this experience and opportunity.  I am grateful for the friends and family who have walked through this with me, lending me an ear or a shoulder to lean on.  I am grateful for a "sabbatical" this summer as I try to figure out where I am being led.  I am grateful for a husband who assures me that things will work themselves out.  I'm grateful for the adventure of whatever is next.  I am grateful for a congregation who is sending Brian and I with an outpouring of love.

Last Sunday the church had a carry-in dinner and short program for Brian and myself as a farewell.  I was given a gift of a beautiful salad bowl (made by a man in our congregation) and tongs.  And in that bowl people placed blessings for Brian and I.  I have not read the blessings.  I am holding on to them.  And this summer I will pull them out - one at a time - when I feel I need one, and I will savor them.  In the end I am left with a bowl full of blessings. 

And I am so grateful.

Day-Time Emmy

One of the jobs that I currently hold is that of church secretary for North Main St. Mennonite Church in Nappanee. One of the joys that accompanies that job is working with a worn-out, antiquated, barely-limping-along, copy machine. It makes me say bad words and behave violently. I've learned to nurse it along and get it to do, mostly, what it needs to do. But lately we are on bad terms more than we get along. I've given it the cold shoulder for two days and it's behaving sullenly.

The church is aware of the situation and a decision had been made to purchase a new copy machine from our office equipment company, a small company in Warsaw that I've had connections with for years. The company is unapologetically Christian, not in an obnoxious in-your-face way, but in a matter of fact way - and I must say that their ethics and business practices have never been anything short of exemplary. A year ago a new, very jolly and slightly scatter-brained salesman, Chuck, was assigned to work up our quote and handle the sale of the new machine.

Fast forward a year. Our church has fallen on some hard times. No new copy machine has been purchased and it doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime in the near future (barring some sort of horrible accident that might befall the machine with one axe and one angry woman when no one is looking). Chuck keeps checking in. He desires a sale, I desire a copy machine, but the obstacles keeping us apart are simply insurmountable.

So today he popped into the church office. He tried to make us an offer we couldn't refuse. I apologetically explained our situation. He understood. It's the same story everywhere. The economy is in the tank in Elkhart County and everyone is waiting to make pricey expenditures like copy machines. As he got up to leave he admitted that in a month he would probably no longer be with the company. He can't make ends meet when there is no commission coming in. There was a bit of an awkwardness as we joked around and tried to figure out how to part ways, realizing it would be our final goodbye. I was saying things like, "Well good luck Chuck, hope to see you around." And as he turned to go he began to speak and said, "Well, I guess if nothing else I'll see you..." Now I expected him to say, "I guess I'll see you around," or "maybe I'll run into you in Warsaw" or "maybe we'll work together again someday under different circumstances." But no, instead he said, "Well, I guess if nothing else I'll see you at the Pearly Gates. And I'll be asking you if you ever got that new copy machine."

How day-time Emmy dramatic! I had such a great laugh. Oh Chuck, you gave me my favorite conversation of the day. Best of luck to you.

Oh Fooey Moment

I attended a funeral on Thursday morning (for the man who commit suicide). I was to play piano for special music and some hymns and provide postlude. I spent some time with the family and vocalists on Wednesday to plan out the music. Luckily one of the vocalists was comfortable leading hymns so that I could accompany because one the congregational songs ("In the Bulb there is a Flower") really requires accompaniment. The other congregational song was the hymn "Wonderful Grace of Jesus." Such a great hymn! On Thursday morning driving to the church I was excited beyond all reason that I was going to get to sing alto on "Wonderful Grace of Jesus." I'm normally the one leading hymns and I'm, decidedly, an alto. I love singing alto. I'm constantly in mourning about singing soprano all the time because I'm leading. But I was going to sing alto on that beautiful morning and I couldn't wait!

I get to the funeral and park myself on the front bench so I can easily access the piano. I arrange my music tidily beside me. I even open the hymnal to "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" so that after accompanying the first congregational song I could race back to the pew, gather up my hymnal, and not even miss one measure of glorious alto singing. So I accompany the first hymn. It goes well. It finishes and I practically sprint back to the pew, pick up my hymnal, and look at the song leader with anticipation. Here is the inner dialogue that followed:

I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready!

The song leader is looking at me. Is he waiting for me to be ready to start singing? How considerate of him.

He's making eye contact with me. Yes mister song-leader, I'm ready to go. (He must sense how excited I am. Nod your head to let him know he can start.)

Why does he keep looking at me?

He's motioning with his hand. That's strange.

HE'S MOTIONING TOWARD THE PIANO! Oh no! He wants me to play.

(Me, popping up and heading to said piano.)

I don't get to sing! Oh the humanity! (Sniffles inwardly.)

(Sitting down at the piano)

Oh fooey! Bob did ask me to accompany this! I remember it now so clearly. I really dropped the ball on this one.

(Positioning hymnal on the piano.)

I have never played this song on the piano. Fingers don't fail me now.

(Begins to play.)

So there it was. Poor guy. He didn't have a pitch pipe, how was he gonna start a hymn? My excitement blinded me. It went fine though. I apologized later. And on a serious note, for what could have been such a sad and tragic funeral, this is one of the nicest, most touching and meaningful funerals I've ever been to. What a testament to a loving family. Rest in peace Mark.

Face to Face with Mortality

Three viewings in two weeks. This is the most concentrated season of mourning that I think I've ever been part of. All of them tragedies. They weren't the kind where Great Aunt Millie was 98 and had lived a full life and died peacefully in her sleep. All were cases of the deceased being gone, seemingly, too soon.

The first, a 55 year old man who passed away due to a medication error that occurred in the early and darkest hours of the morning. (The nurse administered insulin to a non-diabetic.) After a week in a coma, he passed away.

The second, a 72 year old man who had battled illness the last several years. His quality of life was quite poor and his golden retirement years were not what he and his wife had dreamed of.

The final, a 40 year old man who tragically succumbed to depression. There are no words for this one. This one is unspeakably painful for his family and friends.

But these viewings have been places where I have seen the best that humanity can be in many ways. I have seen moments of forgiveness and reconciliation. I have seen friends reunite over tragedy. I have glimpsed both vulnerable and sentimental moments taking place. These last two weeks have opened my eyes to the value of viewings. I guess I've always wondered what the point of a viewing really is. I suppose they are just rites that humans need to process sorrow, to offer comfort, to allow us to realize that we are part of a large community of humanity. And I need to be more willing to attend them.

So, tomorrow morning I head to another funeral where I give the only thing I can really offer of any value in situations like this - music. I only hope that my piano playing can speak to the sorrow that my words can not address, and offer comfort.

The Flair Fairy Has Struck Again

The Flair Fairy continues his or her sneaky work at church, further intriguing me. Who in the world can this possibly be?

My most recent pieces of flair:

My sister suggested that I should knit an item such as a hat or scarf to place these wonderful buttons on. I think that's a FANTASTIC idea. What to knit, what to knit...

Top O' The Mornin' To Ya!

I loves me some St. Patrick's Day! I don't know what my deal is with embracing these holidays that were not celebrated in my childhood home but St. Patrick's Day and Halloween are two of my favorites. I think the monotony of our lives needs to be broken up by little bits of festivity. So I'm happy to have reasons from many traditions to whoop it up a little.

So throw off your Lenten melancholy - it's time for celebration. (Evidently in Ireland Lent was traditionally suspended on St. Patrick's day.) So, if you gave up chocolate for Lent go ahead and have some chocolate today. Throw back a pint of a green beverage, dance to some Irish jigs, cook up some corned beef and cabbage, find a blarney stone to kiss, and find the Irish in you!

I decided this year for MYF (youth group) we should have a St. Patty's day shindig. Which was all good and fine until I realized I needed some party activities. Not only that, I need party fun that doesn't involve alcohol which seems to be a heavy theme in most of the online research I've done for party ideas. Prizes? Give 'em a pint of Guinness. Missed pinning the shamrock on the leprechaun? Take a wee nip o' the whisky as punishment. Hmmm. So I'm working on some ideas that teenagers won't think are lame. Well, they'll probably be a little lame but I hope every one's a good sport.

The party isn't until tomorrow so if you have great ideas or games you've enjoyed at other St. Patty's Day gatherings, I'd love to hear them. Really. I leave you with this Irish blessing:

May those who love us, love us.
And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he can not turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we may know them by their limping.

Somebody's Got My Number

I have been getting these delightful buttons in my church mailbox and they tickle me pink...and have me completely perplexed. I really can't imagine who is tucking these delightful pieces of flair into my church mailbox, especially since I attend a congregation that is, in general, a bit more conservative than I am. And because of that I generally try to keep my liberal and feminist ways under control but perhaps I'm more transparent than I realized. It's really fun to know that I have a sort of co-conspirator at church who, at least in part, shares my free spirit. In case my secret flair-giver is reading this, thank you for these little messages that make me smile.

The First Piece of Flair I Received

My Second Piece of Flair

The Most Recent Flair Received

Lisa - The Mystic

Recently Brian and I had the privilege of attending Winter Youth Retreat (formerly knows as "snow camp") at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Michigan. The guest speaker and musician for the weekend was Jonathan Reuel (composer of "Waterfall," part of the group JRL, and just an AMAZING musician). It really fed my soul. The theme was finding our dreams during the different seasons of our lives. (And there were serious hippie under-tones present here, and I think we all know how I feel about that.) Jonathan had us briefly examine what we thought our personality types might be using the Meyers Briggs classifications. I predicted what I thought I might, maybe what I wanted to be, and it was interesting. Many simply couldn't believe that I am an introvert. Well, believe it folks.

Then this past Wednesday at MYF we all took an on-line version of the Meyers Briggs. I was wrong about what I thought I was. I am an INFJ. (If you would like to take this test click here.) Fascinating stuff. I immediately came home and googled my personality type. Wow! It turns out that I am a mystic. Most people with ESP or clairvoyant abilities are INFJ personalities. I was really excited to find out about my new abilities. My powers are still in their infancy and I want to be able to use them for good and not for evil, so I need to proceed with caution. But soon after finding this out, I was in the bathroom washing my face and getting ready for bed. I opened the bathroom door and called out to Brian that I was foreseeing that there would be a drink waiting for me in the living room when I got out. Brian came to the door, proclaimed me a dork, and went away. And what do you know? When I came out there was totally a drink waiting for me in the living room! My powers are potent.

Aside from finding out about my new abilities, it was a little unnerving to read my personality type. There were things there that I thought were my own particular quirks that in fact, typify my personality type. The descriptions pretty well had me pegged. I love academia, I hate conflict, I am drawn to clergy and music careers, etc... It's actually given me a lot of insight into who I am and areas for improvement. Mostly though, I think it helped me to see some areas I should feel more confident about, more of the ways I should embrace who I am.

In case you're curious, Brian is an ESTJ. He is a pillar. His personality type is called "The Supervisor." And guess what he is at work. That's right, a supervisor. We go very well together. We're also both Geminis...but I don't trust that personality description quite as much. So if you have some free time and would like to find out who you are, this is definitely some interesting stuff...

Marriage Retreat Reflections

It's hard to know how to report on the marriage retreat. I left feeling really warm and contented. It was such a positive and uplifting experience. And it wasn't really religiously tilted. There was some scripture but it came more from the perspective of an experienced therapist and clinician and all that she has gleaned from her work. (And the leaders love NPR, which immediately endeared them to me.) The leader, Beck Unternaher, with the help of her husband, John Blosser, decided to focus on the positives of relationships, relating that the happiest marriages are those that tend to focus on their strengths rather than weaknesses. So that's what we did. With the use of colored pencils and pens, little craft projects, the use of delightful Cd's (including a hilarious William Shatner song), and dialogue exercises, we built an image of what is strong and healthy about our relationship.

We learned that 69% of all conflicts in marriage are unresolvable. Most felt very freed by this knowledge, while it made others feel somewhat hopeless. I like it. We might as well let go of the things that aren't going to get worked out and focus on what we can.

We learned about "the dream in conflict" and about bidding. I learned that when Brian decides to give me a blow-by-blow of the current temperature on a long drive that he is bidding for my attention and I shouldn't get annoyed and start screaming about how I don't care about the current temp. The conversation referred to went something like this:

Brian: It's 6 degrees.
3 miles pass
Brian: It's 8 degrees now.
5 miles pass.
Brian: I can't believe it's really 9 degrees in Leesburg. That has to be wrong.
2 miles pass.
Brian: It's back down to 6 degrees.
1 mile passes.
Brian: I bet it's going to be 8 degrees in Warsaw.
Lisa: You are such an old man. Why are you obsessed with the temperature?
Brian (hurt): Fine. I'm not going to tell you what temperature it is anymore.
We enter Warsaw. I feel bad.
Lisa: So what is the temperature?
Brian: I'm not telling you. You're a jerk.

So, we learned and laughed a lot. This retreat was AMAZING and I would gladly attend one again. (Especially one led by Beck and John.)

Happy New Year

Okay, since I haven't posted a blog for awhile I thought I would share this. I am supposed to write an article once a month for our church newsletter. Which means, I have to try to tie a spiritual message to each article when sometimes I'd love to just tell them a story without any strings attached. So, here is January's submission for your consideration.

This is not the article I was going to write. The article I was going to write was cheerful and encouraging and included reflections about the new year and turning over new leaves. But as I sat down to write this article, I heard a large crash in my back yard. I briefly considered getting up to check it out but decided it was probably my neighbors throwing trash into their dumpster. I was wrong.
30 minutes later upon approaching the back door to let Reggie (our dog) out, I was confronted with the source of the aforementioned noise. A giant tree-limb had fallen directly onto my car. (I am seriously considering giving up my tree-hugging ways.) It shattered the windshield and left numerous ugly gashes and dents. And that is when I decided that 2009 is going to be a mean, bully of a year.
I know a lot of us said “good-riddance” to 2008 and are now looking towards 2009 with hope and anticipation of what it may bring. (For me that now includes a costly car repair.) I hope 2009 is better for all of us than 2008. I hope it is better for our nation and for the people of other nations around the world. But, what if it isn’t better? What if it’s the same…or even worse?
In Jeremiah 29 some of God’s chosen people had been forced into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar, from Jerusalem to Babylon. They had been assured by false prophets that the exile would soon end. But the prophet Jeremiah tells them to settle into life as exiles and to pray for the city they live in, to continue having children and practicing their faith. Jeremiah predicts that they will remain in exile for 70 years. But God tells them, through Jeremiah, in verse 11, “I know the plans I have for you…plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future of hope.” Put another way, “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (The Message)
So, maybe merely changing the calendar from 2008 to 2009 won’t usher in the resounding change we’re looking for. That isn’t reason for us to become too discouraged. If we can have the patience to wait upon the Lord, God has plans for us – and they’re good ones! That is news that I will be happy to carry with me into 2009.

Red or blue...or something in between

Well, it happened. I suspected it. I feared it. I wouldn't address it because I wanted to remain in denial. But then, my sister blurted it out in a conversation and my worst fears were realized.

My mother likes Sarah Palin.

My own dear, sweet, mother who is right under Jesus in the heavenly hierarchy. My own strong mother who planted tiny little mustard seeds of feminism within me. For the love of everything holy - WHY?!?

It's no secret to those that know me well that my political views are, well, quite liberal. (Brian was even called a socialist at work this week...imagine me giggling because that's what I'm doing.) But I try really hard to deal kindly and respectfully with those whose views oppose my own. I'm a big fan of dialogue. But I have a confession.

In private conversations with people who see politics like I do, I'm afraid I'm not very kind to the other viewpoint. (I never blast specific people, just the general masses.) And I'm probably even less kind in my own inner dialogue. (And wow, do I ramble on and on and on in my head sometimes!) I have a tremendously difficult time believing that a rational, thinking, intelligent human being could have anything but utter disdain for Sarah Palin. Really. And I don't like that part of me that so easily dismisses the good brains somebody was born with. So I've been grappling with this ever since my initial rage and indignation subsided just a tiny bit following McCain picking Palin as his running mate. I'm now really curious, and genuinely so, as to why someone would vote for McCain/Palin. And I've been looking for good reasons - not pat answers and not negatives about Obama or the Democrats.

And I've had a revelation this week. And it has cooled my jets, disarmed me, took much of the intensity out of my emotional reaction to the politics of this election season.

You see, I'm scared about the fate of this country. I'm scared of another administration like the Bush one. I'm frightened that we have become so self-obsessed and arrogant as a country that we will squander every bit of good-will we have remaining with foreign nations. I'm afraid that instead of dealing diplomatically with other governments, we will continue to engage in pre-emptive wars resulting in casualties and injury far surpassing simply those that are hurt in the direct line of battle fire. I'm afraid that as citizens, our rights will start to erode as the extreme religious right in this country pushes for a theocracy. I'm afraid that our environment will continue to suffer because, well, we're Americans and we shouldn't have to give up anything that we're used to, anything that makes our lives easy and comfortable. Our arrogance makes it okay for us to use the majority of the world's resources and energy while only accounting for between 5% to 8% of the world's population. I'm afraid for women's rights. I'm afraid about our escalating health care costs. I'm afraid about the economy. I could go on forever.

But, I'm realizing that my friends who see things from a McCain/Palin perspective are scared too. I don't know if I can accurately represent them, but I'll try to sum up what I've been gathering. They fear for our safety, that if we are soft on other nations or pull out of Iraq too quickly it will open us up to attack. They are afraid of not having the strongest military in the world because it would drastically alter the global scene. They are afraid that the government will try to take too much of their money or hurt small business. They are afraid about the economy. They are afraid about the escalating health care costs. They are afraid that morality in this country will erode, that the values they cherish will be considered antiquated and useless (especially regarding abortion and gay marriage). They are afraid that this nation could turn towards socialism. They are afraid that any quick moves, or drastic changes could damage or negatively alter the way of life that Americans hold so dear. They are afraid of things dissolving into chaos. I'm sure I'm leaving some out, but you get the idea.

Once I realized that both sides of the political landscape are afraid - I mean really, really frightened - it took away the "them and us" mentality I was carrying around. (And I'm referring here to friends and to average citizens like me - not corporate executives, politicians, journalists, etc...) And basically, other than on a few really pointed issues, we are scared of the same stuff. The solutions we believe in are not the same, but our desires for our families and for this country match up fairly closely.

When did we let ourselves get so consumed with "issues" - issues like abortion, homosexuality, gun-control, or stem-cell research, that we completely lost sight of the bigger picture? When did those become issues that we would stake EVERYTHING on? (Please do not hear me saying they aren't important because they are important issues...for instance, I would imagine if a loved one could be saved by furthering stem-cell research than it is probably the most important thing in your world. I'm only suggesting that during election time they can be used to distract Americans from working on "big picture" ideas for this nation. I would even suggest the government shouldn't be involved in all the "issues" that they are.) And when did we become so consumed with fear that we assumed complete annihilation of the United States of America and our way of life if the "other" party should be elected to office? When did we become such a nation divided, so focused on the negative that we stopped working together to build up the country?

I'll admit that I am still no fan of McCain/Palin, and frankly, the Bush administration is a scary one by a lot of standards. But I won't see the average citizens who support them as my "enemies" anymore. And on November 4, here's a wish for a prosperous journey, success, and good fortune - godspeed!

And for the Christians among us, who so closely try to link our voting with our commitment to following the way of Jesus, I offer this prayer:

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, pray that we as Christians would respect the integrity of our Christian brothers and sisters in their sincere efforts to apply Christian commitments to the important decisions of this election, knowing that people of faith and conscience will be voting both ways in this election year. (From an author at Sojourners)