My plan for Election Day

My plan for Election Day (by Pastor Kara)

1- I will Vote.

2- I will see and value my fellow citizens, and especially our poll workers. 
I'll do little things to remember and practice our belonging to each other, like making eye contact, expressing gratitude, (and even, perhaps, banter??).

3- I will decide how much of my attention I will give to the breathless, insistent coverage. 
I’m asking: What would support my soul, and help me keep a God-is-God perspective?
Can I stay grounded and steady no matter what? Or might watching coverage all night put me in in an internal state of chaotic adrenaline and dopamine waves of anger, hope, longing, frustration, anticipation, irritability (without any real results or conclusions anyway until tomorrow or later?) 

I am remembering: I have choices.
Like turning off my phone, computer and TV, (or putting on ‘focus settings’ to limit social media and news), or setting or two 5-minute check-in times, or wait for the morning paper. 
I could be intentionally being outdoors, in silence, or with loved ones. I could eat something delicious and nourishing, greet my neighbors, call a friend about something unrelated to politics, 
so many choices! 

4- I will Pray. 
I will carry my finger rosary in my pocket to help me pray. Maybe I'll use a simple, all-day breath prayer, like, “Hi God. Help us today,” or try to look at each person I see with the internal comment, “Look! Another child of God, in this together!” 

For me, reading this prayer has an immediate, physical impact: I can feel my heart rate slow down and my mind and spirit open up. It helps me feel held in the wider, deeper, realer truth that I want to trust and embody, whatever day it is.

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is Good.