This commentary is by Rev. Devon Thomas, pastor of the Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington.
First, I must encourage everyone to accept the results of the 2024 election. The people have spoken and while many in Vermont may struggle with this choice, we still have a responsibility as citizens of this nation to respect the integrity of our elections. That does not change that I am feeling a lot of anxiety over the election.
Rev. Dr. King famously said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice. It’s hard for me to believe that today. Still, I must try to believe.
For the first time in American history, the people of our country have elected a man convicted of 34 felonies, and who had attempted to overturn a legitimate election. Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. No matter how much I disagree with his beliefs and stances, I must accept the vote of the American people, and look to future discourse within the framework of our nation’s laws if I want to see change.
As a Vermont church pastor, this election has shown me that my values of love are not shared by most Americans. We have deep divisions in our understanding of human rights, civil liberty, common decency and religious truth.
As a Christian, when I say God gave us a savior, I refer to a man who preached that we should feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick; he teaches that when we uplift the poor and oppressed, we honor him (Matthew 36:46). I now must recognize that my understanding of the savior is very different from many Christians today because they just elected their savior to office on a platform that casts out the oppressed and turns blind eyes to their suffering.
I take comfort in knowing I am not the only one feeling this extreme anxiety. Having seen the state election results, I am deeply proud of Vermonters because, though we may disagree on policy, our vote from my town of Georgia to the U.S. Senate floor demonstrates that we share similar ethical and moral values of love. Vermont is still a community that believes neighbors should love their neighbors, and in my anxiety, it means everything to know my neighbor loves me. This place of love is where justice is reborn into the universe.
I ask all those who share my anxiety to channel that frustration into loving action. Unfortunately, I fear we will see a lot of injustice going into the future. This future administration has promised mass deportations and military action against American citizens. Hopefully, that was just political rhetoric. The American people have decided the path of our nation, and it falls to Vermonters to decide the path of our state within the nation.
Please help our state stand as a moral example to America in times to come. Take your anxieties and fears and turn them into loving action. Uplift the poor, sick, hungry, and oppressed where we have the power to do so.
There is a lot of good work to be done here in Vermont. We are struggling with a housing and homelessness crisis, and you can give what you can to housing trusts and organizations such as CVOEO, the United Way, JUMP, and COTS, which serve poor and unhoused people. As we struggle with social justice, consider helping groups like the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance and the Pride Center that work to bring inclusion and equity to all Vermonters.
Please help keep the light of neighborly love alive and strong in Vermont. Love is the defining fabric of our Vermont community, and I predict our love will be an example for the rest of the world.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Rev. Devon Thomas: Love is the seed of justice.