Licking wounds after the elections
Some kind of recuperation has to be done after the elections. Not everyone can be winners. In fact, only a few would win. The majority would lose. We have to learn how to find joy in losing and to gather strength from defeats. I believe these are more meritorious feats than simply winning and succeeding.
We have to quickly learn precious lessons. Among them is that in politics, we should be careful not to absolutize our positions, stretching them into the extremes, such that the world becomes completely black and white, kicking out all shades and nuances that give room to changes, chances and possibilities.
I would say this mindset would lead us to disastrous consequences, among them, bitterness, depression, a welling sense of revenge, self-righteousness, and the like, all manifestations of pride whose ways escape accountability.
It’s actually an unreasonable attitude given the nature and character of politics. In a democratic system, our views, regardless of how correct, how most fair and balanced they are, etc., would just be one among many. They have to contend with all sorts of factors that mostly are beyond our control. It’s always possible that they won’t be carried out.
But the story doesn’t end there. Much less, our life. There are still other infinite ways where what is truly good for all can come to us. It may take a lot of time and effort, we may have to go through many bumpy roads, but God never abandons us, his divine providence is always at work.
In short, we should never allow exclusively political means to confine our way of contributing to the common good. While they are indispensable, they are not the only means. There are many other more basic ways that, in fact, politics cannot enter. We have to learn to work under adverse or hostile conditions.
We need to be reminded often and strongly of this undeniable truth, so that we avoid getting stuck at a certain point. Those with Christian faith will find joy in St. Paul’s doctrine that for those who love God, everything will always work out for the good.
The spiritual, ascetical and supernatural means can not and should never be relinquished for whatever reason. Prayer, sacrifices, sacraments, interior struggles should not be put aside.
God allows losses and defeats to happen to draw very important lessons for us—to purify us, to strengthen us, to correct us, to point us to what is truly good for us, etc. With Christ’s death, we are taught that these losses and defeats can be most precious to us. They heal our blindness and deafness.
Yes, we can argue endlessly about our views, but at the end of the day we should see to it that we respect one another and the positions we make. As our local jargon would have it, “walang personalan” should be the attitude to assume.
Therefore, a certain kind of detachment from our views should always be maintained, no matter how strongly we feel about them. Let’s always be sport, never allowing charity to flee from us.
Let’s try to avoid heated arguments, fueled by pointed words and inflammatory logic. Whenever traces of rancor or even hatred come in, we should promptly reject them.
No matter how opposed we are in our views, let’s never demonize persons and parties, painting them as wholly incapable of doing anything good and us as wholly incapable of doing anything evil.
That would be a grave distortion of reality, a simplistic way of looking at things and an open invitation for graver consequences. Our debates and discussions should always be marked by courtesy and charity and earnest search for truth and justice.
Of course, all this is easier said than done. I am of the belief that to attain the proper attitude, no less than the grace of God is needed. That’s why we always need to pray, to humbly beg for the necessary virtues of humility and simplicity, because left to ourselves, we can never be charitable.
We should try to be agents of peace and joy always, quick to recognize possibilities for positive actions despite inhospitable environment rather than getting stumped by negative factors.
Of course, we can also pray that the victors will always be magnanimous in their treatment of their opponents. There should be an outpouring of mercy so reconciliation, peace, unity and cooperation can be achieved for the good of all.
(Fr. Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City. Email: roycimagala@gmail.com)
