At the end of January, an old friend came to town with his comedy improv troupe. They were hilarious. After the show we stood around and caught up. As conversation turned to the year of politics ahead, our friend got an impish grin on his face, tapped his fingertips together, and said, “yeah, it’s been sort of hopeless… but I got this feeling that there’s some holy mischief that’s going to surprise us all in the months ahead.”
Amen. 💯 💯 💯 I think a lot of us are in the same place. There comes a time when we have raised the alarm and said it all and we need to step back and let things unfold. It is sad. But more and more, I also feel called to be outside amidst the growing things. To note the seasons and and the trees and flowers. And birds! To eat good food. To read poetry and watch or listen to powerful stories. To make and look at art. To look for goodness, humanity, beauty, and joy as an act of resistance to the dehumanization taking place. To give lavivishy. To extend hospitality. To practice the spiritual discipline of celebration even while my heart is breaking. To bake two desserts and give one to my neighbor - no matter who they voted for - just because. That tangibly loving my actual physical neighbors thing is big for me right now as i manage the fury and sadness burning in me. I want to see *people* instead of [choose your favorite dehumanizing insult]. I can't fix all that is broken in the church, but I can plant a garden and extend my table and pray. That's all I got right now.
I feel so much the same way.
Same same. Thanks for writing this. Also hopefully you know Mindy Belz, another great Ashevillian
Yes! Say more about clowning!
At the end of January, an old friend came to town with his comedy improv troupe. They were hilarious. After the show we stood around and caught up. As conversation turned to the year of politics ahead, our friend got an impish grin on his face, tapped his fingertips together, and said, “yeah, it’s been sort of hopeless… but I got this feeling that there’s some holy mischief that’s going to surprise us all in the months ahead.”
And oddly, I’ve felt better ever since.
I love this.
Amen. 💯 💯 💯 I think a lot of us are in the same place. There comes a time when we have raised the alarm and said it all and we need to step back and let things unfold. It is sad. But more and more, I also feel called to be outside amidst the growing things. To note the seasons and and the trees and flowers. And birds! To eat good food. To read poetry and watch or listen to powerful stories. To make and look at art. To look for goodness, humanity, beauty, and joy as an act of resistance to the dehumanization taking place. To give lavivishy. To extend hospitality. To practice the spiritual discipline of celebration even while my heart is breaking. To bake two desserts and give one to my neighbor - no matter who they voted for - just because. That tangibly loving my actual physical neighbors thing is big for me right now as i manage the fury and sadness burning in me. I want to see *people* instead of [choose your favorite dehumanizing insult]. I can't fix all that is broken in the church, but I can plant a garden and extend my table and pray. That's all I got right now.
💯
I so resonate with this…Amy’s wise words and what you’ve added. Thank you. 🙏🏽
Oh and - Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry's "Taking America Back for God - Christian Nationalism in the United States" 2020, updated 2022.