Election Aftermath

In the wake of an extremely tumultuous election, my classmates and I took refuge in our theology class where we discussed a powerful idea I find to be relevant to this time.

Divisions plague our world. Race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion divide our already polarized society, making any chance of unity nearly impossible. We forget our intrinsic similarities as human beings, and the common ground we hold as humans with dignity.

From this idea of the community of humankind arises Ignatian humanism, a type of Catholic spirituality. Rather than focusing on the divisions or the rules and regulations, Ignatian humanism focuses on humanity. When we reach out to our neighbors, we truly see the face of God. The Jesuits believe this to be the most powerful emulation of the transcendent nature of the Divine on earth.

Furthermore, this human-centered approach moves deeper than charity into the nature of the questions we ask. Ignatian humanism proposes that every genuine question a human asks has an answer because humans possess an internal sense of knowledge that drives our curiosities. When we ask, "Is there a God?" it is a sign of our inherent orientation toward the Divine.

My theology professor said the most beautiful quote in class a few weeks ago.

You are that which you are looking for. 

How would our world change if we approached every human, no matter how different, with this attitude of respect? How would our world change if we approached ourselves with this attitude of respect?

The election spurred a significant amount of hate, and LMU took a stand by emphasizing the importance of love rather than the anger of hate. Rather than dissolving into violence, a somber happiness of community emerged on campus. People wrote notes to each other expressing their love, and differences were reconciled for the sake of true community.

Friday was the best day I have had since coming here. Everywhere I walked on campus, people greeted me with smiles, and I enjoyed classes and conversations with my newfound community. The baristas at the coffeeshop smiled more than usual, and I found a lucky penny on my walk to rehearsal. Nothing elaborate or extraordinarily out-of-the-ordinary happened, but I felt so exuberant amidst the love on campus.

If this election causes a reaction of overwhelming love like this, everyone wins. We will live the famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."