NOT THE END OF THE STORY

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Matthew and the day after the 44th general election in Canada.  I begin my blog today with the same opening sentence I wrote in a recent email to a Sister of Life friend.  The opening line was this: "I don't know why, but Matthew seems to be a good saint for the day after a federal election."

After I finished my email to sister, I listened to the Sisters of Life Let Love Podcast. 

It was spiritual balm after hours of listening to news commentators negative, judgmental, cynical election analysis and post-mortems. 

As I listened to the sisters podcast, I slowly found myself willing to set aside my own judgment about the media and politicians.

I found myself willing to wonder what makes them look at life this way?

I could tell you the media and politicians are co-dependent.  Which is true, but not very affirming. Or I could take up the suggestion from the sisters awesome podcast:  "I could think about how the Lord might be calling me to affirm God's goodness to a political leader.  How God might be calling me to affirm that leader's own being and goodness to them?" 

This gave me an idea! 

What if instead of one leader, I picked all the federal leaders?  What if I was willing to affirm each one of them and blog about that? 

So as a political act of faith I spontaneously wrote the following while listening to the sisters podcast:

To Justin Trudeau (Lib):  God is passionate and good!  God knows you came into politics with both burdens and joys.  God loves you so much Justin.  Not because you are an attractive charismatic prime minister.  But because God created you.  No minority or majority government will add to or take away from that eternal truth.  God knows and appreciates your passionate soul!

To Erin O'Toole (PC):  God is steadfast!  God loves you so much Erin O'Toole.  God is loyal.  God will not desert you.  Remember David and Goliath.  You are strong and courageous to take on the leadership of a very tough party.   You possess wisdom and discernment.  You and your future are held in God's hands, not the conservative membership's hands!  Fear not!  God is with you!

To Jagmeet Singh (NDP):  God is a good and diverse God!  God loves you and your Sikh soul so much Jagmeet.  God sees your gentle warrior heart as you work so hard and joyfully to help Canadians (especially the vulnerable).  You are a good protector of life (your pregnant wife and child). God bless and guide you now as you head back to Ottawa! 

To Yves-Francois Blanchet (BQ):  O monsieur, O Quebec!  God loves you both so much.  God really is good Yves!  God knows the rocky relationship Quebec had with religion.  God is so sorry for that.  God is so proud of your contributions to Quebec and to Canada.  You add spice to politics!  You have a wonderful heart and bold courage.  If you knew how much God adores and treasures and loves you-- you would certainly fall off your chair!!!

To Annamie Paul (Green Party of Canada):  God loves you so much Annamie!  God has a special place in heaven for those who fight for God's creation and human rights.  God knows your devotion to your Jewish faith and your Toronto Centre neighbourhood.  God shares your devotion.  Take heart!  This is not the end of the story

God bless our 44th minority government.  May it be a blessing to those in Canada and beyond.

I believe.

Cb

Amen

 Image credit:  bnnbloomberg.ca
 

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