There’s politics, and then there’s politics. And it’s important to distinguish between the two things. Here’s what I mean.
Oftentimes, when the term ‘politics’ is used, it is used in a negative or pejorative sense. After all, people generally complain about ‘politics’ and ‘politicians.’ They often attract bad press. People think of politicians as unprincipled and duplicitous people who will do anything to gain your vote, to seek some personal gain of power or profit. Then, when you put all these politicians together, alongside the special interest groups that financially support and exploit them, you get politics at its worst.
Coming off an election cycle, there might be more than just a few people with thoughts and feelings like these. People are tired and frustrated from weeks upon weeks of television and radio ads, social media posts, campaign flyers, door knocking, phone calls and texts, or any other method candidates for public office used to gain your attention and win your vote. These negative thoughts and feelings can get people thinking about ‘politics’ in the way I described in the paragraph above. This is the type of politics people get sick and tired of, and it’s the type of politics that keeps them from wanting to have anything further to do with it.
If you’re feeling this way (even if just a little bit), I’d say it’s a great time for a political wellness check. What do I mean by that?
We should take our negative and hard-hearted views about politics, especially after a long, drawn-out election cycle, and put those feelings in front of the Lord. We should ask the Lord to speak into our hearts and ask for wisdom about what politics truly is. Ask the Lord what His vision is for politics and ask Him how our hearts and minds can be transformed to have a proper vision and understanding of politics.
In engaging in this form of prayer and discernment, I think you’ll find out an immediate truth. That negative way of viewing politics that we can often fall into is not God’s vision and desire for politics. This negative and pessimistic vision of politics is due to our Original Sin and our fallen state as human beings. Our politics can often seem very fallen because, ultimately, we are fallen. But to quote Scripture, we might say something like: “In the beginning, it was not so.”
Properly understood, politics pertains to the just ordering of society.
As the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes tells us: politics is a “noble art.” Politics involves grand endeavors such as the protection of human life and dignity, ensuring care for the most vulnerable, safeguarding and promoting family life, fostering economic welfare, caring for our common home, among so many other beautiful things.
Even though the actions and attitudes of others toward politics might lead us to a posture of negativity, I would suggest that we keep within our hearts the words of St. Faustina from the Divine Mercy chaplet: “that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent.”
This type of holy attitude toward politics will allow us to be salt and leaven in a world in dire need of a positive vision for politics. Even if this attitude won’t seemingly change much of anything overnight, it is an attitude that God calls us to adopt. In doing so, we can properly understand the gift of politics – the just ordering of society – He has given us stewardship over.
In the aftermath of this election cycle, as you lie on your couch and feel the much-welcomed void of no political ads barraging you to vote for this person or that initiative, take a moment to check in on your heart and the attitude you are harboring toward politics. Give yourself a little wellness check in the presence of God and ask Him to recalibrate and transform any negative views of politics you’ve adopted over the last several weeks (or perhaps even years).
With this “new heart” toward politics, may you be strengthened to bear the light of Christ in the public square!
Tom Venzor is the executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, headquartered in Lincoln. Contact him at tvenzor@necatholic.org.
Tom Venzor
Commentary
Time for a Wellness Check
November 4, 2026
There’s politics, and then there’s politics. And it’s important to distinguish between the two things. Here’s what I mean.
Oftentimes, when the term ‘politics’ is used, it is used in a negative or pejorative sense. After all, people generally complain about ‘politics’ and ‘politicians.’ They often attract bad press. People think of politicians as unprincipled and duplicitous people who will do anything to gain your vote, to seek some personal gain of power or profit. Then, when you put all these politicians together, alongside the special interest groups that financially support and exploit them, you get politics at its worst.
Coming off an election cycle, there might be more than just a few people with thoughts and feelings like these. People are tired and frustrated from weeks upon weeks of television and radio ads, social media posts, campaign flyers, door knocking, phone calls and texts, or any other method candidates for public office used to gain your attention and win your vote. These negative thoughts and feelings can get people thinking about ‘politics’ in the way I described in the paragraph above. This is the type of politics people get sick and tired of, and it’s the type of politics that keeps them from wanting to have anything further to do with it.
If you’re feeling this way (even if just a little bit), I’d say it’s a great time for a political wellness check. What do I mean by that?
We should take our negative and hard-hearted views about politics, especially after a long, drawn-out election cycle, and put those feelings in front of the Lord. We should ask the Lord to speak into our hearts and ask for wisdom about what politics truly is. Ask the Lord what His vision is for politics and ask Him how our hearts and minds can be transformed to have a proper vision and understanding of politics.
In engaging in this form of prayer and discernment, I think you’ll find out an immediate truth. That negative way of viewing politics that we can often fall into is not God’s vision and desire for politics. This negative and pessimistic vision of politics is due to our Original Sin and our fallen state as human beings. Our politics can often seem very fallen because, ultimately, we are fallen. But to quote Scripture, we might say something like: “In the beginning, it was not so.”
Properly understood, politics pertains to the just ordering of society.
As the Second Vatican Council’s Gaudium et Spes tells us: politics is a “noble art.” Politics involves grand endeavors such as the protection of human life and dignity, ensuring care for the most vulnerable, safeguarding and promoting family life, fostering economic welfare, caring for our common home, among so many other beautiful things.
Even though the actions and attitudes of others toward politics might lead us to a posture of negativity, I would suggest that we keep within our hearts the words of St. Faustina from the Divine Mercy chaplet: “that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent.”
This type of holy attitude toward politics will allow us to be salt and leaven in a world in dire need of a positive vision for politics. Even if this attitude won’t seemingly change much of anything overnight, it is an attitude that God calls us to adopt. In doing so, we can properly understand the gift of politics – the just ordering of society – He has given us stewardship over.
In the aftermath of this election cycle, as you lie on your couch and feel the much-welcomed void of no political ads barraging you to vote for this person or that initiative, take a moment to check in on your heart and the attitude you are harboring toward politics. Give yourself a little wellness check in the presence of God and ask Him to recalibrate and transform any negative views of politics you’ve adopted over the last several weeks (or perhaps even years).
With this “new heart” toward politics, may you be strengthened to bear the light of Christ in the public square!
Tom Venzor is the executive director of the Nebraska Catholic Conference, headquartered in Lincoln. Contact him at tvenzor@necatholic.org.