I have things I want to write about, stuff to say, to ponder, to wonder about with you.

But for now, my mind and heart are with our country as we toggle between what feels like sanity and insanity.

Between name-calling and human dignity.

Between misogyny and trusting women.

Between racism and a love of pluralism and diversity.

Between xenophobia and the reminder that in this nation we are all immigrants.

Between vulgarity and decency.

Between faith as a weapon and faith as an action.

Between division and unity.

Between fear and hope.

Between the past and the future.

Between hate and love.

Between democracy and something else.

Between seeing my neighbor as an enemy and seeing my neighbor as a friend.

I, along with most of you, am holding my breath, praying my prayers, giving my money, signing up to call battleground state voters, caring for the most vulnerable around me and voting for the good of my neighbor.

It doesn't feel like near enough.

At times, this little light of mine doesn't feel very shiny at all.

And then I see my neighbor picking up trash, school teachers showing up to work early, kiddos waiting at bus stops, our church opening its food pantry, construction workers building new roads, non-profits welcoming refugees, small businesses opening their doors, lawyers fighting for justice, healthcare providers saving lives, and election workers vowing to do the nitty-gritty work of democracy ...

And I can almost catch my breath.

Almost.