Grounding in God and Standing Our Ground

So, about our recent US election…. What I wrote last week is still absolutely true—and the past week has been very disappointing and difficult for those of us who dared to believe that the majority of US citizens would choose hope in lifting up diverse communities and caring for one another. Unfortunately, fear, racism, and misogyny won out instead.

I’ve read a lot of responses over the past week. I’ve read wise words about the need for grief. I’ve received words filled with pain and despair. I’ve seen creative memes about persisting and simple commitments to keep breathing. I’ve been both chided and thanked for what I’ve shared so far. I’ve been able to hold it all, somehow, through the grace of God, recognizing that we all are responding from different places and different realities.

Those I’ve seen for spiritual guidance and writer coaching since the election are struggling, fearful, and yet resolute. They’ve also been grateful for the timing of our sessions, which gave them safe space to process and pray about it all. We each are striving to come to terms with an unfolding new reality—and even those who voted for it have no idea how it all will actually play out.

So, let’s have a conversation about the impact of this election in two years. Meanwhile, we need to remember that all that we fear (or hope for) lies in the future. As I remind people in spiritual direction sessions, God can’t meet us in our fears about the future, because that future isn’t reality yet. God can’t meet us in the past, either, when we reflect on or obsess over what we might have done differently. God can only meet us in the present moment.

This is why so many spiritual traditions teach a version of contemplative prayer or meditation. That practice brings us back to the present moment, over and over again, whenever our minds wander to future fears or past recriminations. When we are in the present moment, we can connect with and ground ourselves in God. We can listen for wisdom. We can let go of what hasn’t happened or already happened and be present with the only reality that matters: this moment.

When we ground ourselves in God, we also gain strength to stand our ground. There likely will be times in the future when we need to stand up for the powerless—including ourselves. Like Jesus, we may need to stand our ground in the face of authoritarian leaders with harmful agendas. When that time comes, if we are grounded in God, it will be enough. (Jesus assures us of this in Mark 13:11.)

So, please join me in regaining contemplative ground this week. Seek out a contemplative prayer group or (re)start your personal practice. Get out in nature to literally ground yourself. We will need it for what lies ahead.