Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Editorial: Hope in a time of darkness | National Catholic Reporter



Editorial: Hope in a time of darkness | National Catholic Reporter

We now must live with our worst fears.

The incompetent, dishonest, divisive and authoritarian-prone Donald J. Trump again has been elected president of the United States. In time, volumes of books will attempt to explain this colossal lapse of judgment. Sooner explored are the dire consequences of this election for our nation, wider human family and the planet.   

For now, as we embark on an uncharted journey, allow no time for debilitating self-pity or anger. Shed these temptations for the sake of individual and collective health. We need balance and wholeness to move forward while protecting the most vulnerable. We need mental acuity to decide how to support each other and our nation's democratic institutions.

We are not the first to face such darkness; we now join countless others living uncertain lives amidst political turmoil. We can learn from them, first by taking less for granted and then by reaching out to them and the rest of the human family to know better how to keep the faith, build courage and sustain resilience and resistance. We need each other more than ever to avoid doubt and to hold fast to principles of fairness, decency and truth. So, how large is this community from whom we need this encouragement? It is global, crosses cultures, races and religions and reaches back generations

*****

We will endure Donald Trump and his sycophants. His time will pass. Sadly, he will cause significant damage. However, we can, indeed we must, limit this damage through our unceasing resolve. As active witnesses of justice and mercy, we will transform darkness into light and weakness into strength for ourselves and others. Every act of love, every gesture of kindness and healing builds the nation that, for now, seems to elude us.

Hope is not a mere feeling. Hope is a choice we make every day. When we choose hope, we embody the essence of our Christian calling — a calling to be agents of change and witnesses of the love our nation so desperately needs, now more than ever. 

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