Thank you for this, Erin. I have been turning to the words of John Guerra this week in an attempt to figure out "how should we then live?" In his song "Citizens," he sings,
"There is a wolf who is ranting
All of the sheep they are clapping
Promising power and protection
Claiming the Christ who was killed
Killed by a common consensus
Everyone screaming 'Barabbas'
Trading their God for a hero
Forfeiting Heaven for Rome
Coming to you ‘cause I’m angry
Coming to you ‘cause I’m guilty
Coming to you ‘cause you’ve promised
To leave the flock for the one
I need to know there is justice
That it will roll in abundance
And that you’re building a city
Where we arrive as immigrants
And you call us citizens
And you welcome us as children home."
The morning after the election, I sat my kids down and said - this, this is the work. We need to be people who practice abundantly unreasonable welcome to everyone in our sphere, especially those on the margins. That's what I'm trying to turn myself to in greater measure during this administration.
I woke up on Wednesday feeling so upset and unsettled. I work in the intersection of healthcare and education and felt like everything I have worked for professionally was on rocky ground. But I also (now that it’s been a few days) am more convinced than ever that it’s my ministry. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To advocate for special needs students, protect the vulnerable kids with trauma, to be a safe space. This work is not easy, but previous generations have done it in unthinkable situations. So I’m planning to follow their example (probably with a lot more cursing and less graciousness) as best as I can.
👏👏👏yes. But also, I don’t think I’m quite ready for this yet. I suppose I will have days when I am more open-hearted than others. Bookmarking to go back to this one.
Dang it. I did not want to read this and I want to just not take it in, but I think it’s what I really needed. I need to be reminded that others are also broken humans just like me. No matter how hard that is to type 😔🫠
While I feel like I’m in the twilight zone- what with so many people of all kinds rejoicing this week-I also am feeling surprisingly grounded in the fact that they are also my neighbors. Humans who have put thought into decisions and truly stand by them. Who have stood by *me* in hard times. The cognitive dissonance for me is so real, but it is what it is; I have to hold both things to be true at once.
I was heartbroken. I cried telling my kids and I felt shell like yesterday. Today I’m realizing that empires will never remind people they belong and are beloved and remind them of their true names. And I think somewhere in the far back for a little bit I thought they could. This broke that for me. I just want people to be taken care of. And I’ll always vote with that at the front but this one vanished any disillusion I have that its what our government wants. I’m starting to get that narrow road dealio.
THIS
Thank you for this, Erin. I have been turning to the words of John Guerra this week in an attempt to figure out "how should we then live?" In his song "Citizens," he sings,
"There is a wolf who is ranting
All of the sheep they are clapping
Promising power and protection
Claiming the Christ who was killed
Killed by a common consensus
Everyone screaming 'Barabbas'
Trading their God for a hero
Forfeiting Heaven for Rome
Coming to you ‘cause I’m angry
Coming to you ‘cause I’m guilty
Coming to you ‘cause you’ve promised
To leave the flock for the one
I need to know there is justice
That it will roll in abundance
And that you’re building a city
Where we arrive as immigrants
And you call us citizens
And you welcome us as children home."
The morning after the election, I sat my kids down and said - this, this is the work. We need to be people who practice abundantly unreasonable welcome to everyone in our sphere, especially those on the margins. That's what I'm trying to turn myself to in greater measure during this administration.
I woke up on Wednesday feeling so upset and unsettled. I work in the intersection of healthcare and education and felt like everything I have worked for professionally was on rocky ground. But I also (now that it’s been a few days) am more convinced than ever that it’s my ministry. To be the hands and feet of Jesus. To advocate for special needs students, protect the vulnerable kids with trauma, to be a safe space. This work is not easy, but previous generations have done it in unthinkable situations. So I’m planning to follow their example (probably with a lot more cursing and less graciousness) as best as I can.
👏👏👏yes. But also, I don’t think I’m quite ready for this yet. I suppose I will have days when I am more open-hearted than others. Bookmarking to go back to this one.
I feel this. And I think it's okay to take the time you need. 💕
Thank you, Erin. I will refer back to this, I am sure. So many helpful tools. 🩷
I'm glad it could be of use to you, Janna!
Thanks for this, Erin. xo
I am not charitable so far. Maybe eventually, but not now. I am enraged and deeply disappointed in my demographics.
I think that's okay. I think that anger is telling you something.
Every. Single. Word. Thank you so much for putting my thoughts into words.
Dang it. I did not want to read this and I want to just not take it in, but I think it’s what I really needed. I need to be reminded that others are also broken humans just like me. No matter how hard that is to type 😔🫠
Whew. I feel it. I really do.
You’re just the best, Erin. Keep going. Keep loving. I will too.
Thank you for this ❤️
Thank you for this, Erin.
I woke up Wednesday, saw the election results, and decided the immediate thing I could do is just be a kind person to all I meet.
This is about as easy and about as hard as anything. But an excellent strategy.
While I feel like I’m in the twilight zone- what with so many people of all kinds rejoicing this week-I also am feeling surprisingly grounded in the fact that they are also my neighbors. Humans who have put thought into decisions and truly stand by them. Who have stood by *me* in hard times. The cognitive dissonance for me is so real, but it is what it is; I have to hold both things to be true at once.
This is a really generous perspective, Danica. Thank you for sharing it.
I was heartbroken. I cried telling my kids and I felt shell like yesterday. Today I’m realizing that empires will never remind people they belong and are beloved and remind them of their true names. And I think somewhere in the far back for a little bit I thought they could. This broke that for me. I just want people to be taken care of. And I’ll always vote with that at the front but this one vanished any disillusion I have that its what our government wants. I’m starting to get that narrow road dealio.
Preach a word.
I had to build my boundaries just a little taller this week.