The coming presidential inauguration on January 20 (which is, ironically, also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), has left many of our parishioners apprehensive.  More than a few have shared their anxiety with me.

From a slew of potential domestic policy changes to radical shifts to the right on foreign policy, people are worried.  What will our country look like at this time next year?  What will the world look like at this time next year?  How much of Mr. Trump’s talk is sincere and how much is grandstanding?

I, of course, have no way of knowing.  But I do know this: We will face changes as they come.  There may be many changes.  There may be few.  Regardless, we will face them as they come; both as individuals and as a church.

The important thing is not to panic and to avoid getting caught up in the echo chambers in which both conservatives and progressives too often reside.  Both of those echo chambers, while on opposite ends of the spectrum, are each filled with negativity and anger right now.  I have counseled many to ration their exposure to the news in general these days because to do otherwise can easily lead to fear, exhaustion, and depression.

There are, however, two things that I think each of us can do to keep ourselves sane.  The first came to me by way of a parishioner I spoke with about this after our New Year’s worship service.  He said that when so many aspects of our common life seem headed in the wrong direction, the way he tries to approach New Year’s resolutions is to choose just one issue and make a commitment to work for change in that area.  It is a way to be impactful and to keep things from feeling overwhelming.

The second important thing to do is to surround yourself with good people.  That’s where our church comes in.  FCC is a place that acts as a counterbalance to the negativity in our world.  It is a place of positive energy where we can remember that we are all children of a loving God who will not abandon us.  It is a place where our faith becomes relevant and we can recover the power of joy.

When January 20^th rolls around, remember that you belong to something far greater than any inauguration.  You belong to the light that we celebrate during the season of Epiphany.  It is a light of hope, healing, justice, peace, and restoration.  It is a light that you are called to share so that God’s presence of calling and assurance is felt in our church, our communities, and our world.