Doing the work I do, people often comment on my pieces, send me emails, or come up to me after talks saying, “I don’t need to know how bad it is, John.
I signed up for a CSA this coming summer - supporting local agriculture, ensuring food for my table, and all the things we cannot use/consume/preserve will go to two local food banks. It's not a lot, but it will still help. The food banks have seen a significant increase in demand even in the last month. Six new families in the last week.
Well said. We have allied with a couple of political action groups, are writing postcards in support of local candidates for the judiciary, given to the local Women's Shelter, marched with 50501, joined the social and environmental groups at church....so far. I also pray, each morning, setting an intention to keep my eyes and heart open, to see what needs to be seen, and deeply perceive its import. I also make comments like this as a way to dialogue with others who are hopefully similarly engaged. Thanks for your efforts, John.
I have that same kind of feeling like when someone I loved has died, the world just don't stop life goes on and you are left in this sad world with no way to go back to normal. Daily I fight to have hope.
The Beautiful Mess. John I love the title of your program. This is exactly what you have been writing about. Yes, some unbelievable mess we are in and yes there is anger involved. For me, I am fortunate to work with so many people who are doing their part to "do something", and that is exactly how anger is being actively used and channeled into something beautiful. There is no end to ideas when we brainstorm together. I work for a group of women who were involved as teachers, and social activist their whole lives, and now they are stronger than ever. And yes there as been grieving over all they have worked so hard for is gone, but a new determination, almost a new life has taken hold of them as they write letters, clothe and house immigrants, gather food for our free stores, etc. The beauty amongst the destruction is exactly this.
Yes. It can be as simple as looking for immediate needs in your community. In our city in FL, funding was suddenly frozen for refugee resettlement (authorized by Congress!), and 126 fully vetted and legal refugees who had just come here no longer had assistance to cover their first two months rent while they looked for jobs. Our church, and others, partnered with a local non-profit (who matched our money), and in literally a matter of days, we had raised enough to help these families for the next two months. Bloom where you are planted. There are needs EVERYWHERE right now.
"Bloom where you are planted." I haven't heard that advice for a long time. I had a poster in my room as a teen with that saying along with a picture of a flower growing out of a crack in a rock. Such a great metaphor for what's happening right now. We must grow strong and beautiful out of the cracks.
We have exactly the same problem in my city. We are working on it, coming up with a plan to support our refugees. There are no new groups but there are groups who still need help.Some of the refugees are professionals in their own field but they need funds for rent, tuition to recertify, childcare while they working to certify, books, school supplies, laptops, lab coats, uniforms, etc. We are working on finding the money because the grants to support them disappeared!
Thank you John! I woke this morning to mountains of grief as I lost my Mom right around time of election. It’s been a lot when combined with the grief over our national situation and for all those affected directly and indirectly. This is helping me move forward in my day with a little more hope and positivity!
Sending condolences and hugs. Even if we've been grown up for a long time, losing a parent is a difficult loss - for me, and for many women I know, losing our mom was the hardest of the expected losses. For me (and I suspect for many women), it was a harder loss because, while we loved each other, our relationship and our history were complicated.
Thank you for your daily summons to courage and action. Yes, sometimes your posts sting, but only when your words catch on places where fear has frozen me into hiding. My “doing something” has been so far overwhelmed by the scale of what needs doing. In reading you today, I better understand now how to contribute to big results through small but continuous acts of “decency.” Thanks again for telling us that we are not helpless before the awful forces that depend on our believing ourselves helpless.
John, this is such a beautiful and timely piece of advice. I would urge your faithful readers to look into a wonderful organization called St Vincent de Paul. We work with our surrounding neighborhoods and neighbors in need. Providing food, funds for utilities and sometimes furniture and supplies for rehabbing their homes. It is comprised of many wonderful volunteers who get more than they give. The time and resources we provide are so appreciated. This mission has changed my life. Thanks again for your words today. I walk in Hope
Your point is extremely well taken! It is also supported by German/Hitler history. I am reading a lot about Hitler’s rise to power and how he used it when it was handed to him. His bravado far exceeded his actual political power at first, then when he became Chancellor, he strategically intimidated or sometimes killed or imprisoned any opposition or resistance to his decisions and orders. He effectively, literally “cancelled culture” of resistance. We cannot control Trump and his minions, but we can refuse to be “cancelled” as an instrument of resistance and opposition.
So right: look, ask, do something. As my weep-mate says, “Do the next loving thing.” Thanks, John.
Weep-mate - perfect
I signed up for a CSA this coming summer - supporting local agriculture, ensuring food for my table, and all the things we cannot use/consume/preserve will go to two local food banks. It's not a lot, but it will still help. The food banks have seen a significant increase in demand even in the last month. Six new families in the last week.
Well said. We have allied with a couple of political action groups, are writing postcards in support of local candidates for the judiciary, given to the local Women's Shelter, marched with 50501, joined the social and environmental groups at church....so far. I also pray, each morning, setting an intention to keep my eyes and heart open, to see what needs to be seen, and deeply perceive its import. I also make comments like this as a way to dialogue with others who are hopefully similarly engaged. Thanks for your efforts, John.
I have that same kind of feeling like when someone I loved has died, the world just don't stop life goes on and you are left in this sad world with no way to go back to normal. Daily I fight to have hope.
The Beautiful Mess. John I love the title of your program. This is exactly what you have been writing about. Yes, some unbelievable mess we are in and yes there is anger involved. For me, I am fortunate to work with so many people who are doing their part to "do something", and that is exactly how anger is being actively used and channeled into something beautiful. There is no end to ideas when we brainstorm together. I work for a group of women who were involved as teachers, and social activist their whole lives, and now they are stronger than ever. And yes there as been grieving over all they have worked so hard for is gone, but a new determination, almost a new life has taken hold of them as they write letters, clothe and house immigrants, gather food for our free stores, etc. The beauty amongst the destruction is exactly this.
Yes. It can be as simple as looking for immediate needs in your community. In our city in FL, funding was suddenly frozen for refugee resettlement (authorized by Congress!), and 126 fully vetted and legal refugees who had just come here no longer had assistance to cover their first two months rent while they looked for jobs. Our church, and others, partnered with a local non-profit (who matched our money), and in literally a matter of days, we had raised enough to help these families for the next two months. Bloom where you are planted. There are needs EVERYWHERE right now.
"Bloom where you are planted." I haven't heard that advice for a long time. I had a poster in my room as a teen with that saying along with a picture of a flower growing out of a crack in a rock. Such a great metaphor for what's happening right now. We must grow strong and beautiful out of the cracks.
We have exactly the same problem in my city. We are working on it, coming up with a plan to support our refugees. There are no new groups but there are groups who still need help.Some of the refugees are professionals in their own field but they need funds for rent, tuition to recertify, childcare while they working to certify, books, school supplies, laptops, lab coats, uniforms, etc. We are working on finding the money because the grants to support them disappeared!
Just when I think the light you shine can’t get any brighter, it does! And I’m blinded with possibilities, fight and optimism. Keep shining!
Thank you for this very timely piece. Take good care of yourself 💜
One thing tht I am doing is to increase the number of organizations to which I make a monthly gift.
Same here! Thank you.
Brilliant!!
Thank you John! I woke this morning to mountains of grief as I lost my Mom right around time of election. It’s been a lot when combined with the grief over our national situation and for all those affected directly and indirectly. This is helping me move forward in my day with a little more hope and positivity!
Sending condolences and hugs. Even if we've been grown up for a long time, losing a parent is a difficult loss - for me, and for many women I know, losing our mom was the hardest of the expected losses. For me (and I suspect for many women), it was a harder loss because, while we loved each other, our relationship and our history were complicated.
🫂
Thank you for your daily summons to courage and action. Yes, sometimes your posts sting, but only when your words catch on places where fear has frozen me into hiding. My “doing something” has been so far overwhelmed by the scale of what needs doing. In reading you today, I better understand now how to contribute to big results through small but continuous acts of “decency.” Thanks again for telling us that we are not helpless before the awful forces that depend on our believing ourselves helpless.
John, this is such a beautiful and timely piece of advice. I would urge your faithful readers to look into a wonderful organization called St Vincent de Paul. We work with our surrounding neighborhoods and neighbors in need. Providing food, funds for utilities and sometimes furniture and supplies for rehabbing their homes. It is comprised of many wonderful volunteers who get more than they give. The time and resources we provide are so appreciated. This mission has changed my life. Thanks again for your words today. I walk in Hope
Our local St Vinnies is my favorite charity...and I'm not Catholic. Their work is more important now, than ever. Thank you!
Thank you. We think so as well. Especially during this time.
I donate five dollars to a charity when I feel aimless; I have a disability and am low income, but it can be empowering to give what I can.
Your point is extremely well taken! It is also supported by German/Hitler history. I am reading a lot about Hitler’s rise to power and how he used it when it was handed to him. His bravado far exceeded his actual political power at first, then when he became Chancellor, he strategically intimidated or sometimes killed or imprisoned any opposition or resistance to his decisions and orders. He effectively, literally “cancelled culture” of resistance. We cannot control Trump and his minions, but we can refuse to be “cancelled” as an instrument of resistance and opposition.
Flooding Elon's HR mailbox with crap about what we all did last week is also very satisfying. ;-)