SojoMail - A theology for election-year exhaustion

A Spiritual Politics for Burnt-Out Christians Adam Russell Taylor writes in this week’s SojoMail that this election season will be ugly, but neither driving ourselves to burnout or ignoring what is at stake will foster the change we need: I have a testimony: At the end of last year, I felt an unshakable sense of dread about the 2024 elections and all that it could entail. This dread was accompanied by an acute feeling of burnout, fueled by my exhaustion with how broken and polarized our politics have seemingly become and how another election year would test both our faith and democracy. This burnout showed up in restless sleep, nagging fatigue, and a frustrating sense of déjà vu, all of which impacted my mental, physical, and spiritual health. By all accounts, I’m far from alone: A recent Pew survey found that 65 percent of Americans say they often or always feel exhausted when thinking about politics and 55 percent often or always feel angry. Though this may sound relatable, it isn’t sustainable. Left unchecked, I fear this kind of national burnout tempts us all to tune out and disengage at the very moment when political engagement, including voting, is critical. Worse still, this kind of political cynicism and despair plays into the hands of authoritarian leaders who are all too happy to use the political vacuum created by exhaustion to gain their own power. Even if we recognize (quite reasonably!) that none of us can individually solve massive societal problems like poverty, racism, or war, it starts to feel like there’s a never-ending list of ways we need to do more to be God’s agents in the world. As the news stories pile up — End climate change! Cease-fire now! Avert a government shutdown! Save our democracy! — the weight of it all becomes too much to bear. For those of you who find yourselves utterly exhausted by the thought of another election year, I have three tips that have helped me combat burnout without disengaging from the world around me. READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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