Vol. 5 Iss. 2: "Four More Years!"

   By Lizzie Berne

   For the first few weeks I was ‘at’ Union, but something happened recently and now I’m really here. It was November 3, the day after the election, and I was carrying Kerry’s loss around with me in a visceral way. I guess most of it was shock, but there was a strong sense of hopelessness in it too. I stumbled into OT101 and then into several moments of grace. First, a conversation with a classmate I hadn’t spoken with before; the grace appeared in her words of comfort and in a button she offered with an open hand, declaring the fuerza poderosa, the powerful force, of woman. Another much-needed blessing came with the opening prayer led by another classmate. He started with song and the sound of his voice released a sob from me that was embarrassing at first. But I knew that the sacred space he had invoked was a safe place for release. After class, in the Pit, two other students reached out, offering their perspectives on what our responsibilities were – as Americans, as ministers, as students at Union – in response to the unfolding national reality.

   When I headed back to the subway that afternoon I felt different. Not just about the election, but about being here. It was as if these moments had baptized me into the Union community. Community has been the most essential aspect of my Christian experience, so I know how life-giving, transformative, and powerful it can be. It’s too early to say how being a part of Union will change me, but already it’s given me hope. Even on November 3 I was looking forward to the next four years.