“Change is only possible, & all the greater, When the labour & bitter anger of our neighbors Is moved by the love & better angels of our nature.” – an excerpt from “For Renee Nicole Good” by Amanda Gorman
It goes without saying: It has been a long and heavy week. The collective trauma we are moving through inevitably brings up a variety of responses from restless and frantic energy to fatigue and numbness and everything in between. Either way, if you are reading this and noticing yourself struggling to maintain focus or continue to conduct “business as usual,” I see you and pray that you give yourself grace, knowing the movement toward peace and justice is truly a long-haul effort.
Instead of spending time looking toward the abundant reasons to stay with feeling fear, hopelessness, and anger, although I recognize it may sound naive and overly simplified, I wish for us all to remember what love would do in this moment. The ways our community shows up lovingly never fails to restore hope in my heart. The vast amount of people willing to show up with care and empathy far outnumbers the oppressive forces. They want us exhausted and depleted, so must remember to be in practices that allow for us to keep tending to the ongoing relay race toward the most free world we can imagine.
A children’s book that comes to mind for me Oh, The Things We’re For! by Innosanto Nagara, which celebrates positive actions, social justice, education, and diversity, encouraging kids to think about what they stand for, not just what they oppose. In these times, may we, too, remember and speak to all that we are for.
Upcoming events:
- Mindful Movement in the UUFM Sanctuary, Mondays at 11am in January
https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/06c0e932 - Zine Workshop, Wednesday, January 14th, 6:30-8pm
https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/32248111