The chapel in the hospital in Miramichi, New Brunswick, has had all religious symbols removed from it.

Imagine, for a moment, you are a U.S. senator. The United States Senate has a designated chaplain who offers prayer at the opening of every daily session.

But the assembly is deadlocked. There is no agreement on anything. Partisan politics rule the day. The U.S. government is shut down and employees are furloughed. National parks are closed. Government services at a complete standstill.