{"id":1065,"date":"2012-11-07T09:55:41","date_gmt":"2012-11-07T16:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2012-11-07T09:55:41","modified_gmt":"2012-11-07T16:55:41","slug":"3-suggestions-on-how-to-be-good-to-one-another-in-the-wake-of-a-bitter-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/paperbacktheology\/2012\/11\/3-suggestions-on-how-to-be-good-to-one-another-in-the-wake-of-a-bitter-election.html","title":{"rendered":"3 Suggestions on How to Be Good To One Another in the Wake of a Bitter Election"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Taking a look at my Facebook and Twitter feed this morning has triggered the pastoral response in me. So many people are overjoyed. So many people are in obvious pain. I feel like the smart thing to do before I get to the \u201chorse-race\u201d and political analysis stuff that I love so much (I really do love it. I know it\u2019s weird but I do.), is to try and offer some humble suggestions about how to be good to one another in the wake of a bitter election.<\/p>\n

01 Rise Above<\/strong>
\nIt takes two to tango. Don\u2019t swing at bad pitches when your friends from the other side (whichever side), bait you on social media or even in person. You can set the tone for your interactions by rising above anything meant to sew seeds of discord. You have to rise above it. If they came to fight, don\u2019t engage. One of the best proactive things you can do is put up a friendly Facebook status and attempt to approach the other side with grace and humility. Make the first move. Celebrate passion and the fact that people really care about our common life and our society, but don\u2019t get sucked into an argument.<\/p>\n

I posted this on my Facebook status. I worked hard on the language and I mean every single word:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo my friends on the political right just wanted to say that I love you and I celebrate your passion and heart. I know you are stinging a bit this morning so I\u2019m praying for you and hoping that the feeling goes away soon. All shall be well & not because of politicians or nations. For my friends on the political left. I love you and I\u2019m sincerely glad you had a good night last night. I celebrate your passion and heart as well. Please don\u2019t rub anyone\u2019s nose in their defeat. You can gloat in private of course, but as good as the election results feel to you is how bad it feels to them. Everyone please try and keep your cool on Facebook today. Be good to one another. Be kind. \u201cBe completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.\u201d Eph 4:2\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

02 Write \/ Delete<\/strong>
\nIf you are ticked about the election and are tempted to write a diatribe to express your frustrations, you should write it. Then you should delete it. It will be good to get it out, but you\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0let other people see it \u2013 especially not everyone who is friends with you on Facebook. I promise you that it will only make things worse, and the end it will not make you feel better to put it out there.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m reading things from friends on Facebook right now that are evidence of a lot of pain. Parents are recommending everything from telling your children they owe the federal government $51,000 a piece, to folks saying this was America\u2019s last chance \u2013 better buy canned goods and plant a garden because it\u2019s all going to hell from here. (There are some crazy things from the winning side to \u2013 Messiah complexes to be sure). It\u2019s good to express the pain. But posting your Dennis Miller rant will only do two things.<\/p>\n