They say, “Politics is the art of the possible.” I suspect they really mean “politics is the art of the probable.” In any event, I believe this saying is true of far more than politics. On the other hand, faith is the art of the impossible, or more likely the “art of the improbable.” We sometimes find ourselves at the juncture of politics and faith: the arts of the possible and the impossible.

As I write this Sketches just days before this November 2nd General Election, I am reflecting on how some of us have been struggling at the juncture of politics and faith. I don’t know how the election will turn out but I want to share a little of my personal struggle at this juncture of the possible and the impossible.

For me this election road started long before November 2nd. In fact, it started last year when I announced that I would not seek this Senate seat again. My decision made good sense to me. It was certainly the art of the possible – reasonable, logical and sensible after 27 years of Senate service. But so many others did not accept the reason, logic or sense. They had a sense of their own and I went on faith with their sense. I perceived that this was way bigger than me. I entered the juncture where politics and faith meet.

Then the primary came around bringing some very difficult decisions. A credible African American was running for Governor of Alabama. He had every opportunity to win the Democratic Primary where African Americans make up about 45% of the Party. In addition, he had over a million dollars stashed away and was way ahead in the polls by a margin of 32%. Reason and logic said we must support him. It was the art of the possible.

We do not have any statewide elected officials in Alabama who are African American. Therefore we wanted to support the African American in light of our historic exclusion on the state level. Plus, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he would win the Democratic Primary even though the general election would be a steep mountain to climb. It was the art of the possible.

But we did not follow the art of the possible. Instead we followed the art of the impossible, endorsing a White man who did not have a chance to win the Democratic Primary over a Black man who had every chance. Of course we were propelled to our decision by the African American’s vote against President Obama’s health care, his refusal to appear before African American political groups and his public attacks on these groups. But victory still seemed an impossible journey.

After the election, the art of the impossible had triumphed over the art of the possible. The White man won by a 62 – 38 margin. This was way bigger than any of us.

Then, the general election loomed. It was a foregone conclusion that the Republican nominee for Governor would simply sweep over the Democratic nominee. All we could hear was how the strong anti Democratic wave, infused by rampant anti Obama sentiments, was sweeping the political lands.

It seemed a sure thing that this wave would sweep out the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate of the Alabama Legislature and sweep in Republican majorities. After all, they had everything going for them: millions of dollars raised over four years in a determined effort led by Governor Bob Riley; the decrease of resources fueled by attacks on Constitutionally established bingo facilities; criminal investigations that hung over the political scene like a bad low looming cloud. Finally, the ultimate political bomb was dropped: indictments handed down just 29 days before the election accompanied by high profile early morning arrests with leg shackles, hand cuffs, etc. One Senator was arrested between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. at Walmart while he was buying a jug of milk for his family. It seemed designed for maximum negative impact on voters.

These indictments and arrests also had a profound impact on people who became afraid to try to raise money; afraid to plan less it be perceived as a conspiracy; afraid to speak out less they be unjustly targeted; afraid to send out e-mails or letters; and even afraid to talk with one another. I spoke out anyway, refusing to alter my life or activities. I was traveling on faith.

With the art of the possible, there is no way to overcome all these forces. But utilizing the art of the impossible, we just keep working, doing everything within our power and the impossible sometimes becomes the possible.

I have done all I know to do. So have other individuals, organizations, and groups. I don’t know what will happen with the election, but there is peace in knowing we did our best in the face of great odds, choosing to challenge the impossible rather than acquiesce to the possible.

EPILOGUE – Some of us operate by the art of the possible. Some of us operate by the art of the impossible. The greatest challenge is to operate at the juncture where the art of the possible and the art of the impossible meet.