We must love them both, those with whom we agree, and those with whom we disagree. For both have labored in the search of truth, and both have helped in the finding of it.
~ Saint Thomas Aquinas

What does being a contemplative look and sound like in an election season? Here is my serious, unstressed-out, non-reactive answer to that question:

I am consciously holding space for a meaningful, illuminating consciousness-raising exchange of ideas. I am holding space for the two men running for this high, hard, rather thankless task to listen with their hearts, to be changed, uplifted, informed, inspired, and guided by the experience.

And I am holding space for each of us to listen to each other, the analysts, and the candidates with our hearts, to speak from our hearts, to be changed, uplifted, informed, and ultimately inspired to do our individual parts, in every breath-to be the change we want to see in this world.

I also am aware that I have a very strong preference about who wins this election. The Other Guy is a Beloved Child of God, too-as are all of his staffers, his PR people, his family. Even the media people are beloved children of God. And My Guy is not without his growing edges, nor are his staffers, his family or his PR people.  Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other.   

...[L]et us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. ~Abraham Lincoln (Second Inaugural Address)

It must really all depend on what I am praying for. And why. The motivation for my prayers. Do I pray for My Guy to win? Or do I pray for the highest good? And let go of my preference about the outcome right now?

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