So let’s reflect on how to lessen the appeal of the idols, and how to cultivate some spiritual equilibrium during this election season. The recipe that’s good for your soul is, not surprisingly, also what is required for the healing of the soul of our nation.

Our primal disease of mind and soul is a lack of humility – at least on the subject of politics. Everyone is so very sure. Being sure fosters anger – in you, but also in those who aren’t sure you’re sure. Being so sure fosters fear too, as you’re burying a little unacknowledged... READ MORE

A second key to your spiritual equilibrium, and frankly being a better person, in addition to humility, is the whole reality of sacrifice – which is also a second key to the healing of the soul of the nation. Here is where politics has severely damaged the spiritual life, yet hopefully not beyond the possibility of healing.

Sacrifice. Instead of clinging to what is profitable to me, or grabbing for more for me, I cheerfully take less, or nothing; I even give up what is precious to me for the good of the other. My earliest childhood political memory was...READ MORE 

Last week, we looked at humility and sacrifice as the pivotal pair of virtues/habits we need to cultivate in our own souls – all the time, but especially in a bitter election season. And the healing of the soul of the nation will also require a mass conversion to the revival of humility and sacrifice – or maybe we can at least start a wave, a little movement that might spread and become the new, cool thing.

Then there’s this: I’m a big fan of John Danforth, former Republican senator from Missouri and ambassador to the United Nations, and... READ MORE