We have a great opportunity to practice our faith this week. The election is Tuesday. I hope that, if you haven’t voted already, you will make a plan to do so. Not only is voting a critical civic responsibility, but the communal anxiety surrounding elections also offers us an opportunity to put our faith into action and work as reconcilers and peacemakers. We can model virtues like patience and magnanimity.
In some places, counting will take days, sometimes longer, because election officials are doing exactly what they should: counting every lawful ballot carefully and accurately. That isn’t a sign that something has gone wrong. It’s a sign that something is going right.
Let’s be magnanimous—generous in our interpretation of events while holding our leaders accountable for truth and justice. Misinformation spreads quickly, and this is a time to use our prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that helps us think critically, solve problems, and control impulses. When we feel threatened, our brains shift into survival mode. We react rather than reflect. But we have the remarkable capacity to pause between stimulus and response, to think before we act. That capacity is part of what makes us human.
So, let’s practice being human this week.
In the Bible, “Son of Man” is a title Jesus uses for himself. Some newer translations render it “The Human One.” I love that interpretation because it invites us to see Jesus as the embodiment of what it means to be fully human. Not only is he the one who shows us who God is, but the one who shows us who we can become.
So this week, let’s practice being human. Pause before reacting. Choose reflection over reflex, compassion over fear, and wisdom over impulse. Let’s become a little more like the Human One.
Coming up soon…
Next Monday night (Nov 9) will be our first Singles fellowship dinner. Sharon Sutton is organizing this informal gathering in the Atrium. Come by at 6 p.m. for food and fellowship. All ages of singles are welcome.
Woodland Thanksgiving is on Sunday, November 15, at 5 p.m. Get your tickets now. Information is below.
On November 18, I’m going to be preaching at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church’s Hope & Healing Service. If you’re free that night, I invite you to come and join me for the service. It will be an hour-long service and a great opportunity for our churches to be together.
We are finalizing plans for Advent and Christmas. Look for calendars for the Advent season to be available on Sunday. We’ll send them via email next week.
Grace and peace,
Garrett Vickrey