John Pavlovitz, you write: “This is our moment to elevate humanity, to defy the gravity of fear”. I once read that fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. You reminded me of that today. A lot of what trump is doing now is fear-mongering. It’s tossing out noise to observe the effect. It’s testing-the-waters. It’s throwing-ideas-at the-wall-to-discover-what-sticks. It’s preparing-the-ground. But it’s NOT reality yet. This is a mind-game. It’s entertainment for his voters. When we react with despair, fear, rage, They Laugh. My hope is they are only helping us to figure out how to hone our determined resolve to battle on all fronts, to remain true to exposing fascism and idols for what they are, but to remain able to be there for each other when we falter. Thank You, John, for hosting this community where we can find balm for our aching minds and hearts
I saw Wicked last week with my adult daughter who relates with the LGBTQIA community. We both cried and left emotionally drained. Throughout we whispered to each other how much this reminded us of what is happening in the US today as promulgated by Trump. I believe that the similarities to where we find ourselves in the US of today are the reason that we felt so emotionally drained. We are angry. We are hurt. We feel betrayed by our own countrymen. What we cannot do is allow this to destroy our hope, our goodness, our kindness, our love, our gentleness, or our righteous fight for a better world.
Great article! I find that people are beginning to see what is happening here in America. They realize that Christians in this country are nothing more than a bunch of evil racist idiots. They want America to be white only. Which is stupidity ini itself. America cannot be a one race country. One has to get rid of the original people that were here before the invasion of white peoples came here. One must get rid of the people that were brought over here to slave for them. It is said; that most Americans have a fifth grade reading level, without comprehension. I say that because they don’t understand history or science or mathematics. Some don’t believe that the earth is round, when they look at the moon, I wonder what they are thinking?
I had the exquisite privilege to have been found by Christ in a as a twenty-something year old in the era of fear my generation experienced following the Kent State shootings of four of my generational peers at the hands of the National Guard. I was a Northern bred, politically pacifist, white, single woman flying under the radar in the Deep South where white men carried (carry) guns with them as a matter of course. While I was driving solo along an interstate between Alabama and North Carolina I heard a Voice proclaim, “Look around you. All this is Mine.” I pulled off at the next rest stop and sat for half an hour, changed forever.
Within my wonderment I could isolate one enduring strand: I was no longer afraid: not of guns; not of men; and most importantly, not of death.
I can’t say I like the idea, nearly five decades later, of having to face again the irrational, focused ire of the blunt force of the “men (advisedly plural) behind the curtain” when faced with opposition to their sadist machinations. But I am not afraid, even of death. Because All this belongs to Someone who chose to speak to me once while I was scared.
Very much the same as I feel. I don't want to have to stand up in a way that causes attention to me to stand up for what is right, but I have to. I must because in discovering Jesus, I discovered myself and true love as well as my reason for being.
It may sound bold to know in advance how one will act in a moment. But I do know. I will be true to myself and true to the love that I know is the only reason for being. No longer being here on earth to me at best is a new adventure and worst is a peaceful rest of non-being. I am fine with either. Without love, I'm in my living in hell anyway.
It's a sad day in this country when a group's only real (and fleeting) joy comes from drama and creating suffering for others. (I'm not sure what part of this is the worst-their joy or how fleeting it is, causing them to constantly create more suffering to keep their fix going. It's like watching addicts) A choice was made to remain miserable, instead of doing the work of self reflection and figuring out what is necessary to combat their misery on a more stable and sustainable course.
I've been there, and I feel shame at it-I cannot correct the past, but I can take steps to not repeat it. That is a goal worthy of effort for me-self improvement. 'Other' is not the cause of my woes-choosing to identify and work on it is necessary for that change: a better, healthier self.
Hate divides, hate kills. There is no other purpose for it...
John Pavlovitz, you write: “This is our moment to elevate humanity, to defy the gravity of fear”. I once read that fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. You reminded me of that today. A lot of what trump is doing now is fear-mongering. It’s tossing out noise to observe the effect. It’s testing-the-waters. It’s throwing-ideas-at the-wall-to-discover-what-sticks. It’s preparing-the-ground. But it’s NOT reality yet. This is a mind-game. It’s entertainment for his voters. When we react with despair, fear, rage, They Laugh. My hope is they are only helping us to figure out how to hone our determined resolve to battle on all fronts, to remain true to exposing fascism and idols for what they are, but to remain able to be there for each other when we falter. Thank You, John, for hosting this community where we can find balm for our aching minds and hearts
Wow, this is good stuff.
I saw Wicked last week with my adult daughter who relates with the LGBTQIA community. We both cried and left emotionally drained. Throughout we whispered to each other how much this reminded us of what is happening in the US today as promulgated by Trump. I believe that the similarities to where we find ourselves in the US of today are the reason that we felt so emotionally drained. We are angry. We are hurt. We feel betrayed by our own countrymen. What we cannot do is allow this to destroy our hope, our goodness, our kindness, our love, our gentleness, or our righteous fight for a better world.
That last sentence. Yes!
Great article! I find that people are beginning to see what is happening here in America. They realize that Christians in this country are nothing more than a bunch of evil racist idiots. They want America to be white only. Which is stupidity ini itself. America cannot be a one race country. One has to get rid of the original people that were here before the invasion of white peoples came here. One must get rid of the people that were brought over here to slave for them. It is said; that most Americans have a fifth grade reading level, without comprehension. I say that because they don’t understand history or science or mathematics. Some don’t believe that the earth is round, when they look at the moon, I wonder what they are thinking?
Not all Christians.
Rev. Pavlovitz,
I had the exquisite privilege to have been found by Christ in a as a twenty-something year old in the era of fear my generation experienced following the Kent State shootings of four of my generational peers at the hands of the National Guard. I was a Northern bred, politically pacifist, white, single woman flying under the radar in the Deep South where white men carried (carry) guns with them as a matter of course. While I was driving solo along an interstate between Alabama and North Carolina I heard a Voice proclaim, “Look around you. All this is Mine.” I pulled off at the next rest stop and sat for half an hour, changed forever.
Within my wonderment I could isolate one enduring strand: I was no longer afraid: not of guns; not of men; and most importantly, not of death.
I can’t say I like the idea, nearly five decades later, of having to face again the irrational, focused ire of the blunt force of the “men (advisedly plural) behind the curtain” when faced with opposition to their sadist machinations. But I am not afraid, even of death. Because All this belongs to Someone who chose to speak to me once while I was scared.
Very much the same as I feel. I don't want to have to stand up in a way that causes attention to me to stand up for what is right, but I have to. I must because in discovering Jesus, I discovered myself and true love as well as my reason for being.
It may sound bold to know in advance how one will act in a moment. But I do know. I will be true to myself and true to the love that I know is the only reason for being. No longer being here on earth to me at best is a new adventure and worst is a peaceful rest of non-being. I am fine with either. Without love, I'm in my living in hell anyway.
If your voice had no power, they would not seek to silence you!
It's a sad day in this country when a group's only real (and fleeting) joy comes from drama and creating suffering for others. (I'm not sure what part of this is the worst-their joy or how fleeting it is, causing them to constantly create more suffering to keep their fix going. It's like watching addicts) A choice was made to remain miserable, instead of doing the work of self reflection and figuring out what is necessary to combat their misery on a more stable and sustainable course.
I've been there, and I feel shame at it-I cannot correct the past, but I can take steps to not repeat it. That is a goal worthy of effort for me-self improvement. 'Other' is not the cause of my woes-choosing to identify and work on it is necessary for that change: a better, healthier self.
Hate divides, hate kills. There is no other purpose for it...
Once again, John, thank you.