Spiritual Immune Boosting

Caring for our souls leading up to election week

Hello, Friends. And happy Saturday to you all. This week, I’ve found myself increasingly grumpy and sometimes even disturbed. I know, I think, the reason for this (as much as one can ever really “know” one’s own discombobulation— I don’t know about you, but I am often a mystery to myself). The reason, I think, is that I am in a season of waiting on many consequential things to take place, over which I have very little power. As you know, I’m moving soon, and try as we might to push things forward, the process has been protracted and exasperating. And then there are other things I’m waiting on in work, in life. In the impatience, I cast about for someone to blame, and take umbrage with life’s answer: wait!

(For a bit of poetic irony: as soon as I typed that sentence, I received a text message that answered one of those pending anxieties. Many thanks, life!).

And then over all of this hangs the American election. It is a strange thing to be watching it from a distance in the UK, as I have watched every election for the past eight years. I find myself stopping to speak with American friends about it on the street or in a coffee shop, desperate for a little bit of release of the anxiety and exasperation I feel for my country, whatever the outcome of this election may be. American elections are quite a contrast to UK elections. The most recent UK election was called on 22 May and everyone voted on July 4, so the campaign was just about six weeks, a contrast to the gruelling ordeal Americans endure.

Powerlessness and the feeling that you do (or can) not know the truth.

When I search the murky waters of my discomfort, I think these are two things that trouble me most. The fear of what will become of the world, of where the world is heading, of how little I can do about it. And then there is the way that all this makes me question my ability to know. It seems that people who I have always assumed and experienced to be of good will witness the same world as me and come to very different conclusions. It makes me question: have I misunderstood all this time? Did we read different bibles, form ourselves on different senses of what it means to have integrity? Are they deceived— and if so, how? Am I vulnerable to the same kind of deception? Perhaps I am the one who is deceived.

I think both of these things— powerlessness and doubting our capacity to discern and know the truth— in large doses are spiritually and emotionally corrosive. The reality is that we do have little control over the big things of history, but we must decide each and every day how to live, how to relate to our neighbours, and most importantly (if you’re a Christian) how to be faithful to Jesus. And that requires both a sense of our own power, and a loyalty to truth. And so, this week I have been trying to do what I think of as spiritual first aid, or perhaps more accurately (for the metaphor) spiritual immune boosting. Proactively tending to my emotions and my spiritual life whatever may come in the following weeks.

Fill your mind with truth and with courage.

We live in a world that is saturated with words, and words that are largely directed at influencing us to act, to vote, or to buy. This constant deluge can stir us into anxiety and use our fear to influence us, it can make of us feel powerless and despairing, and sometimes it can downright deceive us. One way I combat this is by regularly immersing myself in words that a clear, rational, beautiful, words that remind me of my deepest convictions, that orient me toward the truth.

Scripture: I know I’ve mentioned this before, but something I find really helpful if you’re wanting to include more scripture in your life but finding it difficult to sit down and read your bible is Pray as You Go. It is a podcast that has a scripture reading and guided prayer on that scripture every day. It is about 10 minutes. I often listen to it on my commute to work or a coffee shop. It is wonderful.

This was one of the readings this week which most encouraged me:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

• Ephesians 3:14-19

Books: I basically read for a living, so this is one that I sometimes neglect. but recently I resolved to have one book on the go that was aimed at nourishing my spiritual and emotional life. For me, this has most recently been Eugene Peterson’s Subversive Spirituality. I read a few pages (sometimes literally one!) here and there. I have tried to start doing this when I feel the urge to scroll mindlessly through twitter or the news. If you are looking for soul nourishing books and authors, I’d recommend Eugene Peterson (so many good ones!). Something I love about him is that many of his books just work through books of the bible (Running with Horses which is about the book of Jeremiah is a favourite). And my sister Sarah has a book called Quiet: a life of holy attention coming out on election day (!). I’d also love to know what books you find spiritually nourishing.

Telling yourself the truth: This may sound silly, but I think reminding ourselves in small ways of our ability to discern and tell the truth is very spiritually important. Sometimes I do this by telling myself things I know are true, even writing them down. I start with simple things: I have brown eyes, the leaves on the tree outside are yellow. And I move to deeper things: I love my husband, I have friends that love me and support me. In a world that is always trying to manipulate and convince, there is power in remembering you can tell the truth.

Remind yourself of what you can do.

Do something about the big things: There are many things that seem simply out of our hands: the election, the wars brewing in various countries, inflation, climate decline. And yet, in small ways we can do things about those. We can vote. We can express our concern about things to our MP or congressmen. We can try to take steps to be wise, responsible, and thrifty. We can support local farmers, use less single use products, plant a garden. The world is out of control, but not entirely. When I feel anxious about something in the world, I try to take a step back and ask: even if it is very small, what can I do? What is in my power?

Clean your house, make cookies, or curl your hair: This may sound stupid, but when I feel anxious I do a task that I can complete that is satisfying. Nothing pulls me out of a feeling of powerless like making and then eating a delicious batch of snickerdoodle, curling my hair, or having a clean house. It is a tangible way to remind oneself that one is not entirely out of control with the world. I am powerful!!! On that note, this is my favourite snickerdoodle recipe lately.

Comfort (and distract) yourself and others.

When all else fails (and even when it doesn’t), watch tv, read a novel, try a new activity, buy a candle, bake some cookies. I suppose this one is connected to the last point (make cookies, etc), but with a different inflection. It’s not only about reminding yourself of your power and agency, but simply treating yourself like a toddler: sometimes you don’t need to talk a toddler out of their tantrum, you need to distract them with a snack or a game. You’re the same!

But there’s also a deeper reason, which now that I think of it, I wrote in my book Aggressively Happy, so you’ll forgive me if I just copy and paste it here:

When I was younger and less battered by the world, I used to think Paul’s words to the Philippians were a kind of sanctified escapism: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Now that I am older I realize I do not need to be reminded that the world is dark and difficult; I am well aware, and very tired. What I need is a vision of goodness so bright that it lights the path ahead of me, keeps me faithful, and makes me brave.

And at the moment, this is inspiring to me to rewatch Anne of Green Gables. What is your wholesome distraction? Because I could always use more!

And I’d love to know: what are you doing to protect and nourish your soul?

Warmly,
Joy,

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^[1] The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, directed by Peter Jackson (2003; Burbank, CA: New Line Cinema), www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKIgv8AhffA.