Well, here we are. It's been a long, hard journey to get to this night, the night before everything comes to a head. It's going to be a hard day tomorrow and a hard night, and probably we won't have answers, perhaps even for a few days or more.
All the words have been said, I think. We've watched the endless rallies, ridden the roller coaster all summer long. We've watched months of ads and interviews and listened to insults and lies and even calls to violence. Our elections these days are a lot tougher than they used to be, that's for sure. And it's all gotten louder and louder, until we can hardly find our country anymore in all that noise and rancor.
But tonight let's talk about what comes next.
Now, I know if the side I'm supporting doesn't win, I'm going to feel pretty awful. There's so much at stake this time, more than in any election I can ever remember. And I'm already thinking about how I can be involved in helping my country going forward.
But that's not what we need to do next, when all the dust settles. I think our next step is to turn away from that red and blue map in the newsroom and turn back to our town. Our neighborhoods. Our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family.
Because more than ever, what we're going to need is to heal.
If the one we supported wins, let's be gracious and not rub our neighbors' noses in it. If they lose, keep steady and keep a long view. Don't give up. You're needed more than ever.
But remember, after this is all over, we need to start healing.
Healing happens over dinner tables and in church pews, in holding the door for a stranger, in a casual conversation in an elevator. Healing happens when we start a chat with that one cousin at Thanksgiving dinner about the football game. Maybe it happens when we give our neighbor a hand, ignoring the sign they had on their lawn all summer and complimenting their Christmas decorations.
Winter's coming. There are sidewalks to shovel and kids to help with their homework. There's work to go to and dogs to walk. And there are people in your life who need you well and whole and looking toward the future.
We've had our eyes on our whole country all summer long, on struggle and noise. We're all tired and bruised. It's time to heal.
I'm grateful for all of you. Hang in there, and see you on the other side.
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