Building the Road as We Go

Many of us are finding our way into a new activism on behalf of our values. And we are building the road as we go.  Returning to California, I discovered some friends were participating in a rather ad hoc group. They answered one of those emails to “start/join a group in your area” from an organization that hasn’t given them much support since. They are learning that voter registration is not as simple as you might think.  Trader Joes won’t let you put a table in front of their store.  Several other organizations want you to write the corporate office first. The Post Office is friendly ground. The Highway Patrol must approve voter registration in front of the DMV. If they do,hopefully everyone will be so bored waiting in line that they’ll talk to anyone.  And typing  “rock the vote” in Google will direct you to online voter registration: good for Millenials.

It turns out you can walk around just about any public space with a clipboard and do low-key voter registration.  But Margaret does need a chair.  Margaret is the oldest member of the action group at 91. She experienced the Nazi occupation of Holland as a teen, and her father died at Dachau.  Trump reminds her too much of Nazis; she cannot stay home and do nothing.  So Margaret attends meetings and registration drives faithfully, speaks with charm and passion, and from her chair, helps builds the road for tomorrow's democracy.

(Margaret has a bit of a media presence too:

https://muckrack.com/andrea-adelson-1/articles

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/08/19/laguna-beach-unity-rally/)

Closing Inspiration: 

To grow a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

     – Audrey Hepburn

I Will Never Give Up on Love

My dear friends, today is a day of reflection for me. I feel the turmoil and the fragility of our democracy intensely. And I wonder: what can I do? Do I just turn away and close my eyes? Do I allow the sense of powerlessness that washes over me to win?  I don't know the answers. But I have decided that there are things I can do right now: I will stand up for love and inclusion. I will hug my children and kiss my spouse. I will love my neighbor. I will promote understanding and acceptance by listening deeply when I encounter viewpoints that are different from my own. I will be vigilant that my words are aligned with my sense of integrity. I will not use what I believe to manipulate others. I will personify the peace that I seek in this world. And when I fail to do so, I will forgive myself and try again.  I will fight hatred and injustice by not fanning its flames. I will reach out to people in need. I will seek to walk a mile in others' shoes before I judge. I will stand like a rock when winds of anger blow past me. I will not buy into the hype that seeks to only separate and outrage. I will deepen my commitment to learning our history and understand that freedom is not possible for all until truth and reconciliation (rather than repression and ignorance) are heard, processed, and honored.  I will do research when met with cheap talking points aimed to infuriate and inflame. I will embody love each time I am met with anger and fear. I will. And I will renew my commitment each time I fail and keep going. I will walk boldly and with determination. I will remind myself that growth is painful. I will never give up on love.      – Marie Trout, 8/12/17 Marie became a U.S. citizen this month. She says:  Feel free to copy, or modify (the above) however meaningful to you and state it to yourself, to your friends, and set your intention too for each step forward. We are the future. We have the power. Question of the week: What have you done for love or justice that was out of your comfort zone? Closing reflection:   There is no way to peace; peace is the way.      -A. J. Muste

Our House is Too Big

     To pray is to build your own house.  To pray is to discover that Someone else is within your house.  To pray is to recognize that it is not your house at all.  To keep praying is to have no house to protect because there is only One House.  And that One House is everybody’s Home…. That is the politics of prayer.  And that is probably why truly spiritual people are always a threat to politicians of any sort.  They want our allegiance and we can no longer give it.  Our house is too big. 

     – Richard Rohr

Question for discussion:  From which sources do you learn the back story— the context of issues?  Where do you get depth and clarity? (I'd love to hear responses in the comment section!)

A closing inspiration: 

In daylight, one candle is insignificant. In deepest darkness, one candle is radiant.

The Mighty Know How...

A holy man was once threatened with death by a bandit.  “Then be good enough to fulfil my dying wish,” said the holy man to the bandit. “Cut off the branch of that tree.”  

One slash of the sword, and it was done! “What next?” said the bandit.  

“Put it back again,” said the holy man.  

The bandit laughed. “You must be crazy to think that anyone can do that.”  

“On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. Anyone can do that. The mighty know how to create and to heal.” 

        (Sorry I have lost the attribution to this– one of my many books on nonviolent action.)