Thank you, God!

Watching and listening to the observations after Biden and Harris were finally named the projected winners, it dawned on me just how wonderfully God has worked in this election. We were so concerned about Trump succeeding in inflaming his followers to doubt the results of the election. Fears of a civil war were very real.

Instead, because so many Republicans were re-elected, they have no interest in supporting Trump's attempts to undermine the election. Just a few have not come around.

The business community is consolidating around a peaceful transfer of power too, all of which helps.

We came so very close to losing our democracy, but God heard our prayers and strengthened us to the task, bringing us to this moment.

Biden's speech and theme of unity and healing is the perfect one for this time. Now may we all do the work to begin talking, listening, and healing.

For a quarter of a century I've been lifting up the issue of reconciliation and healing of the bitter partisan divide, week in, week out I've written that in my Sunday school class's prayer journal. This is the first time I've felt real hope that something transformative is beginning to happen.

We on our side have our own issue of having hardened our hearts to those on the other side. We too have grown angry and bitter. I don't know how many times I've read here some version of "I will NEVER forgive them." A spirit of unforgiveness means staying stuck though.

So I continue to pray that we can act on the opportunity given and find a pathway forward towards one another.

Lots of work to do.