It’s the week before our national election.  Are you spending less time watching national news and more time watching the Weather Channel?

At least when we watch the Weather Channel, we feel connected as a nation.  We don’t notice people’s politics – we’re worried about their wildfires in Colorado, their hurricanes in Louisiana, what will happen to Halloween in Minnesota with snow piling up everywhere!   But when we watch the daily news, we can feel exasperated at those same, fellow citizens.

Many are exhausted with the election.  Some actually feel sick.  There’s a new medical condition doctors are seeing this election season, called “TightMares.”  Those suffering this condition can’t sleep at night.  They keep waking up with nightmares about a tight election, where the counting goes into January.

But seriously, there are very real illnesses at large in our nation.  Over eight and a half million individuals have been sickened by the Corona Virus.  Other are feeling the darkness of grief, with over 226,000 virus deaths.   And millions are sick with worry of a spiritual dimension: they’ve lost hope for the future.

This week’s sermon scripture is a story of sickness.    We’ll hear about the illness of one of the most powerful men in the ancient world, and how he is healed — by being humbled.

This Sunday we’ll explore the humbling power of illness, and the healing power of humbling.