Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Prayer overcomes partisan division on climate legislation
“We don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell,” my friend and fellow climate advocate emailed me concerning our effort to advance a bipartisan bill with a particular legislator. I knew what she meant. The acrimony between some members of the opposing parties had been referred to as a civil war, and our issue, climate progress, had become particularly polarized. All opportunities to unite the parties behind a good bill seemed to have dried up.
Previously, in 2018, I had run for state representative, despite facing a heavily favored incumbent. He was uninterested in climate action, and for years my state had failed to pass meaningful climate legislation. Running for office seemed to offer an opportunity to effect a change I felt was needed. In the end, the current state representative didn’t seek reelection, so I ran against someone else from his party.
I prayed to approach my campaign from a spiritual perspective. In my study of Christian Science, I had learned that everyone is God’s offspring, the expression of His being. On this basis, I affirmed the true, spiritual nature of all the voters. I talked individually with several thousand people, striving to find common ground with each. My opponent won, but the campaign got me praying more consistently about politics.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
