Post-Election ‘Tea for the Soul’
Dear Beloveds,
I write this the day after the elections, and we have a new president. Let’s name the elephant in the room—some folks’ prayers were answered, and some were not. This week, there are some across our nation who are rejoicing, and some who are disheartened.
Our Spiritual Care Department at Cedars Sinai (where I serve as a chaplain) offers something that is called Tea for the Soul, where all the chaplains come on each of the floors of the hospital and the various departments, and offer a hot cup of tea, open arms, and listening ears for anyone who might need to share what weighs heavily on their hearts. I want to encourage everyone to a time of processing and prayer for whatever we feel, whether joy or sorrow, and to give ourselves some “tea for the soul.”
It is very easy to be swept up by emotions and worry about the tensions and the division we see in our nation. But it is during times such as these that we hold tight to our faith. On Monday night, our church gathered for a very meaningful prayer service acknowledging that we are a praying people, a people of faith, a people who identify as children of God first before anything else, and right now, after our elections, it is all the more important for us to hold firmly on to this.
I would like to share with you what I prayed out loud that evening; it went something like this:
“Loving God, as our nation chooses its leaders, we come before you with humble hearts, and we seek Your wisdom, guidance, and we seek peace. As we prepare to cast our votes, and wait for those who are also casting them, we deeply acknowledge the weight of this moment. We acknowledge our hopes and fears. We ask for strength to approach the coming days, and we ask for open hearts and calm spirits. We ask for compassion for one another. Help us not to be overwhelmed by our fears and anxiousness. We ask that hope endures above all things….”
May God bless us all this week, and may we all love one another, that the world may know we belong to God. May we remember that God holds us all, and we have been called to love each other in our differences, to care for one another, to pursue peace and justice, and to be part of a beloved and loving community.
With great love for you,
Pastor Grace
