Dear Friend,

I’ve been thinking a lot about faith and politics the past few weeks in preparation for the Adult Spiritual Growth conversations we’re having this Lent (there’s a second one on March 26th you can join!). So this week’s Midweek Musings contains a selection of offerings related to faith and politics. Hopefully things that will feed your spirit and buoy your soul as you go about the work to which God calls us.

Blessings,
Pastor Sarah

What’s On My Ballot

MyVote Wisconsin

I don’t have an article for you this week. Instead, I have a website that I hope you will visit if you’re a Racine/WI resident. Hopefully you know that we have an election coming up on April 1st. These mid-year elections can sometimes take us by surprise, but this is a particularly important one for a number of issues, and it always helps to know what will be on your ballot so you can research things in advance and be an informed voter.

If you live in Racine County, there is a referendum on the ballot for Racine Unified School District. Many of you know that I sit on the school board, and so I have a particular interest in this issue and would be happy to talk to you about it if you have any questions. What I think is worth saying here is that if this referendum doesn’t pass 1) our public schools are going to be in a lot of trouble (I know, we passed a referendum 5 years ago, barely, but that money is legally restricted to capital/building expenses and can’t be used for operational expenses like paying for teachers and educational assistants), and 2) it’s just going to keep coming up until we do pass one because there simply isn’t enough money coming from the state to fund public education any more. That said, I know it involves an increase in property taxes (about $35 for every $100,000 of property value). One of my biggest complaints about Wisconsin is that it has put communities around the state in this predicament where we need to decide between affordable housing and decent public education. It’s not an easy choice and as Presbyterians, both are things we value and work toward. However you vote, I hope you will consider the issue carefully and if I can answer any questions, I’d be glad to.

There are of course some important statewide elections as well and a second referendum for the City of Racine for emergency services, which also … very important. So I hope you will click the link and look to see what is going to be on your ballot and then make a plan to vote on April 1st.

My Vote

The Guest House by Rumi

Helena Bonham Carter

In thinking about faith and politics, this poem seems particularly appropriate while not being directly about either. Here’s the text:

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Christianity and Public Life

Michael Wear

We watched this video in the class on Faith and Politics last night, but I think it deserves an even wider audience. Wear is the founder and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life and he speaks to both the state of American politics (this is from 2023, but the issues are similar).

We Are Here