I have a testimony. Late last year, I felt an unwavering fear of his 2024 election and everything that entails. This fear is accompanied by an intense sense of burnout, and how broken and polarized our politics seem, and how an election year will test both our faith and our democracy. It was fueled by a sense of fatigue. This burnout manifested itself in sleepless nights, persistent fatigue, and a frustrating sense of deja vu, all of which affected my mental, physical, and spiritual health.
No matter how you look at it, I’m never alone. According to a recent Pew survey, 65 percent of Americans say they often or always feel exhausted when thinking about politics, and 55 percent say they often or always feel angry. While this may be relatable, it is not sustainable. I fear that if this kind of national burnout is left unchecked, we will all lose interest and disengage from political engagement, including voting, at the very moment when it matters. Worse, this kind of political cynicism and despair plays into the hands of authoritarian leaders who are happy to exploit the political vacuum created by exhaustion to gain power for themselves. .
As Christians, we tend to enter a debilitating election year with two competing, but equally unhelpful, theologies. On the one hand, to paraphrase St. Teresa of Avila, there is the idea that God “has no hands but ours.” While rooted in beloved scriptures like Matthew 25, which teach us to care for others as Jesus cares for himself, when these Christian teachings go too far, we It starts to feel like a burden to solve all of the myriad of problems. It only falls on us.
Even if we all (quite rationally) realize that we can’t do it. Individually As we try to solve large-scale social problems such as poverty, racism, and war, it begins to feel like there is a never-ending list of more things we need to do to be God’s agents in the world. Masu. As the news articles pile up, let’s put an end to climate change! Ceasefire now! Avoid a government shutdown! Save our democracy! –The weight of everything becomes unbearable. In the activist world, far too many of my friends and colleagues are suffering mental, physical, and spiritual burnout from this type of pressure. This theological problem, even if well-intentioned, can lead to a savior complex and a tendency to rely on one’s own limited wisdom and power instead of always seeking to tap into God’s infinite wisdom and power. That could mislead us.
On the other side of the spectrum, I’ve seen Christians By completely separating themselves from politics and turning inward, they face the exhaustion of the world situation. After all, if you believe that God is in control and that everything will work out in the end, why should you worry about the current state of politics, including serious injustices? This approach reflects the Essenes, a movement in Jesus’ time that sought to withdraw from society in order to focus on a more communal and pious life. In 2024, this may sound like Christians saying the church should “stay out of politics” or that it should only focus on caring for souls. These are tempting responses in a world where everything feels like it’s constantly on fire, but the problem is that, as the saying goes, we have too much heavenly heart to be earthly good. ” This is what happens. We cannot ignore that our Savior challenged many of the religious and imperial powers of his day and was ultimately crucified for sedition. Picking up our cross and following Jesus often requires sacrifice and courage to stand in the way of injustice.
In some cases, the Bible appears to contain both views, even within the same passage. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His listeners, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow you will be worried about yourselves” (Matthew 6:25). But just a few verses later, Jesus tells those same followers, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things will be added to you.” So which one is it? Should we not worry too much, or should we continue to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness here and now?
There are no easy answers to these timeless theological questions. A famous maxim often attributed to St. Ignatius instructs Christians to “pray as if everything depended on God, and work as if everything depended on you.” , attempts to resolve this theological tug-of-war. But I believe there is a better way to follow Jesus in this tired world. It is a way to more accurately embody the relationship between humans and their Creator. Rather than just “giving it to God” or believing that it is possible through God’s work; only If it happens through our efforts, I believe we are called to be co-creators with God, to work together to bring forth a new creation “on earth as it is in heaven.” For me and many of my colleagues at Sojourners, the combination of faith-inspired work for social justice and an inner life that values reflection, self-awareness, and a personal walk with God is the essence of our faith. It’s the core. We need both action and reflection to avoid the polarities of a belief that it’s all our fault, which leads to burnout, and a belief that turns us away from real suffering and injustice.
Guided by a spirituality rooted in both justice and contemplation, each of us can discern the kingdom-building work that is most needed. To do this, we must take seriously the Apostle Paul’s teaching that we are one body made up of “many parts” (1 Corinthians 12:12) and engage in many of the activities necessary to advance justice and the common good. , you have to realize that it is better done by people like: Others have different gifts. This allows us to understand and respect our own limitations, both individually and collectively, and when we have work to do or when we must leave the outcome completely to God. You can know. For people on either extreme, discovering and following this middle path can be an extremely liberating feeling, and it is ultimately about following the way of Jesus. yeah.
For those of you who are completely exhausted by the thought of another election year, here are three tips that have helped me fight burnout without disconnecting from the world around me.
- First, let’s learn To recognize danger signs and know when to pause and stand still. I felt great comfort in the simple but meaningful prayer that the priest said. Richard Rohr bases his teaching on Psalm 46:10. He prays the words “Be still and know that I am God” aloud, then takes a deep breath and slowly exhales. Repeat the phrase, following the same speech and breathing pattern, but omitting another word each time. “Be still and know,” “Be still,” and finally, “Be present.” This prayer reminds me to be still and gives me space to remember that I am not God, nor should I or should try to be God. Acknowledging this, and then thinking more deeply about God’s attributes of omniscience, omnipotence, and unconditional love, can bring deep comfort.
- Second, in taking care of yourself and those around you, find some constructive ways to feel called to participate in this difficult election season. Again, we are not called to do everything, but we are called to do it. something. This includes volunteering as a poll worker (sorely needed across the country), participating in voter registration efforts, and serving as a poll chaplain on Election Day through Faiths United to Save Democracy. included.
- Finally, we must accept Jesus’ command to love both our neighbors and enemies. This is a mandate that is becoming increasingly countercultural. This is especially important given how much bitterness and anger people already feel. As the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached, we must learn how to see the image of God even in our enemies and strive “for the sole purpose of defeating evil systems.” Have to. We must be tough on evil systems, but also show as much compassion and empathy to people as possible.
Loving your enemies may begin by simply praying for your political adversaries and adversaries. I truly believe that our prayer life is a way to empower us for the work of justice and justice. You can also join initiatives like “It Starts with Us.” It builds a movement of people committed to cultivating our innate capacities of curiosity, compassion, and courage to overcome the forces that divide us.
Entering 2024, I was able to pull myself out of my own wilderness of burnout by taking a serious break from Christmas and starting the new year with a fresh look at my relationship with God. Through prayer and insight, it has gradually become clear to me what God is asking me to focus on in 2024 and where I need to respect my limitations. I know this isn’t always easy and not everyone can do it the same way, but I hope you can do the same.
