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Bringing Food Home
Food has been a life-changer for me. The first big shift was not a result of eating a particular food, but from reading a book about food, namely Diet For a Small Planet, by Frances Moore Lappé. The second time when food sent me on a new course was gulping down two helpings of bland, pale scrambled eggs at my mother’s house, which mysteriously triggered a food addiction that lasted several years and launched me on a quest to free myself from addiction. That search became a journey to find my true self and God. (Read Bicycling Home, My Journey to Find God for the recounting of my quest and the happy ending.)
The topic of food seems to fall into three areas of exploration: the politics of food, food for the spirit and sensual food. Here is a brief look at each.
THE POLITICS OF FOOD
I read Diet For a Small Planet in 1975 when I was 26. The book shines light on all aspects of food, but what was a startling eye-opener was about how our food is produced. Lappé described and documented the enormous inefficiency, waste and ecological destruction of the meat-based Western diet, a diet that many other cultures now aspire to. The most striking of many facts is that it takes 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of beef. This diet is now untenable, unsustainable, and even bordering on criminal because of its waste of land, water and energy, destruction of natural habitat, and contribution to food scarcity, poverty and global warming. Climate change demands that we also look at where our food comes from: is it locally grown or has it been shipped thousands of miles from its source? I try to buy locally but I have to confess that one of my favorite of all foods is Atlantic Salmon—from Norway. I imagine nearby catfish and trout will be the future fish in my diet.
Lappé and Joseph Collins have just published a definitive work on world hunger entitled World Hunger: 10 Myths. For example, Myth #1 is “Too Little Food, Too Many People:” Myth #6, “The Free Market Can End Hunger.” These books, and many others, give us all we need to change to a more plant-based diet, and enjoy it too.
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT
We feed our minds and spirits every bit as much as we feed our bodies. Are the thoughts, the information and images we take in all day long nourishing for us? Are they toxic or cause us indigestion? Apparently, neuroscience can now demonstrate the brain has a negative bias; it prefers to constellate around negative, fearful or problematic situations. I have to say that’s true for me, though I do my best to fill my mental plate with positive food. It’s almost impossible to watch network news without getting depressed. That’s why we need to get a balanced diet of information, and especially take in a generous helping of positive news, which is one reason I subscribe to The Optimist Daily and YES! magazine. I want to know what’s going on in the world but I want to give my energy to people who are upbeat and who are working on positive solutions rather than dwelling on bad news and what doesn’t work.
SENSUAL FOOD
Lent is now with us and people are encouraged to give up something for Lent to emulate the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and sparring with the Devil. I find it far easier to give up a particular food, like chocolate, than to give up a particular habit. For the record, this Lent I am giving up inner whining and complaining about what doesn’t suit or please me, or what’s inconvenient. But as I said, it’s easier to give up chocolate; I gave up the same complaining bit last year for Lent.
Now let’s get on to the topic of tasty, wonderful, savory food we love. I’ve had fun asking friends what they would order for a last meal. My farrier would have Elk Wellington (tenderloin of elk wrapped in puff pastry). One friend would have “tacos, tacos, tacos!” stuffed with black beans and veggies. Another would fast to keep his mind clear. Makes sense, but I would strive for a clear mind and also unquestionably order that favorite Norwegian Salmon and maybe Tiramisu for dessert. Or how about Cornish Game Hens with traditional stuffing followed by apple pie?
Whatever your favorite dish, I offer our favorite cookie recipe for dessert:
The 129-Calorie Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Please enjoy, and just think, two cookies are only 258 calories!
The topic of food seems to fall into three areas of exploration: the politics of food, food for the spirit and sensual food. Here is a brief look at each.
THE POLITICS OF FOOD
I read Diet For a Small Planet in 1975 when I was 26. The book shines light on all aspects of food, but what was a startling eye-opener was about how our food is produced. Lappé described and documented the enormous inefficiency, waste and ecological destruction of the meat-based Western diet, a diet that many other cultures now aspire to. The most striking of many facts is that it takes 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of beef. This diet is now untenable, unsustainable, and even bordering on criminal because of its waste of land, water and energy, destruction of natural habitat, and contribution to food scarcity, poverty and global warming. Climate change demands that we also look at where our food comes from: is it locally grown or has it been shipped thousands of miles from its source? I try to buy locally but I have to confess that one of my favorite of all foods is Atlantic Salmon—from Norway. I imagine nearby catfish and trout will be the future fish in my diet.
Lappé and Joseph Collins have just published a definitive work on world hunger entitled World Hunger: 10 Myths. For example, Myth #1 is “Too Little Food, Too Many People:” Myth #6, “The Free Market Can End Hunger.” These books, and many others, give us all we need to change to a more plant-based diet, and enjoy it too.
FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT
We feed our minds and spirits every bit as much as we feed our bodies. Are the thoughts, the information and images we take in all day long nourishing for us? Are they toxic or cause us indigestion? Apparently, neuroscience can now demonstrate the brain has a negative bias; it prefers to constellate around negative, fearful or problematic situations. I have to say that’s true for me, though I do my best to fill my mental plate with positive food. It’s almost impossible to watch network news without getting depressed. That’s why we need to get a balanced diet of information, and especially take in a generous helping of positive news, which is one reason I subscribe to The Optimist Daily and YES! magazine. I want to know what’s going on in the world but I want to give my energy to people who are upbeat and who are working on positive solutions rather than dwelling on bad news and what doesn’t work.
SENSUAL FOOD
Lent is now with us and people are encouraged to give up something for Lent to emulate the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and sparring with the Devil. I find it far easier to give up a particular food, like chocolate, than to give up a particular habit. For the record, this Lent I am giving up inner whining and complaining about what doesn’t suit or please me, or what’s inconvenient. But as I said, it’s easier to give up chocolate; I gave up the same complaining bit last year for Lent.
Now let’s get on to the topic of tasty, wonderful, savory food we love. I’ve had fun asking friends what they would order for a last meal. My farrier would have Elk Wellington (tenderloin of elk wrapped in puff pastry). One friend would have “tacos, tacos, tacos!” stuffed with black beans and veggies. Another would fast to keep his mind clear. Makes sense, but I would strive for a clear mind and also unquestionably order that favorite Norwegian Salmon and maybe Tiramisu for dessert. Or how about Cornish Game Hens with traditional stuffing followed by apple pie?
Whatever your favorite dish, I offer our favorite cookie recipe for dessert:
The 129-Calorie Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Please enjoy, and just think, two cookies are only 258 calories!
NEVER DOUBT that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has..
Activism is defined as “the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political and other goals, sometimes by demonstrations and protests.” There’s much more to activism than this limited picture. Let's look at some expanded ideas.
Resistance: Here’s where we stop or slow down a destructive force, policy or action. Often this takes the form of direct action—marches, protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience. Many say that direct action is the most important tool we have right now for change, and we have definitely seen the positive impact of mass movements, most recently in climate change work. Millions of aware people are now realizing that merely changing light bulbs is not the solution if we don’t simultaneously change our values and the whole economic / political system. We’ve seen our power to make change. One activist says, “The core of activism is voice. I don’t think there is any fight we cannot win if we have the numbers.”
Renewal: In this arena we build the foundations and forms for a sustainable way of living. This is going on all over the world with increasing momentum, from the rise of alternative clean energy use, emerging local economies, cooperatives, small-scale agriculture, to the development of earth-friendly materials to replace non-degradable stuff. Hundreds of organizations are working to build a conscious, caring economy, and a truly democratic system. (See a few favorites in Resources for Inspired Action.) Two great sources for positive news are The Optimist Daily and YES! magazine. It is vitally important that we get a big dose of good news to balance the in-our-face bad news the mass media serves us.
Change of consciousness: In this realm we inform ourselves about what’s really going on. Visionary activist Helena Norberg-Hodge believes that one of the most powerful forms of resistance is awareness—informing ourselves and others about the realities of our destructive system so we can create truly sustainable solutions. She calls this “awareness activism.” And as Joanna Macy instructs, we must be unafraid to face the hard truths, and to let our hearts break. It is only by engaging this process that we can free ourselves from hopelessness, helplessness, depression and apathy to take meaningful action. It is truly revolutionary activism at the deepest level, and the only way we can bear the unbearable. [See my Reflection on Despair] As Gandhi tells us, “Be the change we wish to see in the world.”
The Motivation for Our Activism: Many people who join protest marches are justifiably angry and frustrated at circumstances. We need to expose and confront injustice and corruption, but violent, mean-spirited confrontations that harm people and property are more likely to turn people off to our cause than a march that is imbued with positive energy. Picture the climate marchers in New York and Paris, many decked out in colorful costumes, carrying bright banners, with linked arms and happy faces. These folks were having fun, while having a huge impact on policymakers. All good.
One of the most influential books I’ve read recently is Creating A World That Works For All, by Sharif Abdullah. He puts it this way: “For those wishing to create a better world there is a dual purpose in our activism: to transform ourselves and to transform the world. The principal tool to produce that change is compassion. Many of us are motivated more by anger at what is wrong than expectant joy at what could be right. We need to try not to act from anger or fear."
Stepping it up: Given the increasingly violent rhetoric and actions of our day, the continuing deterioration of ecosystems, and the deepening polarity between people, it is time to step up our activism in whatever way fits our personal nature and style, our time and energy. As Dr. Jean Shimoda Bolen says, “Your cause, your assignment, is directed by what’s meaningful to you personally.”
Let me count the ways: There are many ways to think about and practice activism. This excellent article from YES! magazine gives us “17 Ways You Can Work for Social Justice."
Don’t discount the value of your attitude to bring about change, or your working on a subtle level to envision what we want. Studies prove this practice of envisioning what is desirable—subtle or spiritual activism—is very effective.
This sounds contradictory, but we need to have fun at this serious business of making change. We still need to celebrate life, to feel awe and wonder at the magnificence of our planet. We can go about our day in a slow and mindful manner, staying in a place of love, compassion and kindness as much as possible in relation to ourselves, other people and Nature.
We should also take seriously the power of “clicking,” and digital activism. Think of President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone pipeline, Shell’s withdrawal from drilling in the Arctic, and other successes that have been effective in part because of “mass clicking.”
May we all be creative activists in service to greater harmony on Earth.
Favorite Resources & Quotes
YES! magazine
The Optimist Daily
Desert Rose Press: The "Never Doubt" card, with well-known quotes by activists, is available at our press website.
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do little.
Edmund Burke,
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Marching without heart is just motion. Speeches without love are just words. . . Collective resistance alongside creative, joyful envisioning of change at the systemic level create humane and ethical uprisings.
Sharif Abdullah
Activism is defined as “the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political and other goals, sometimes by demonstrations and protests.” There’s much more to activism than this limited picture. Let's look at some expanded ideas.
Resistance: Here’s where we stop or slow down a destructive force, policy or action. Often this takes the form of direct action—marches, protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience. Many say that direct action is the most important tool we have right now for change, and we have definitely seen the positive impact of mass movements, most recently in climate change work. Millions of aware people are now realizing that merely changing light bulbs is not the solution if we don’t simultaneously change our values and the whole economic / political system. We’ve seen our power to make change. One activist says, “The core of activism is voice. I don’t think there is any fight we cannot win if we have the numbers.”
Renewal: In this arena we build the foundations and forms for a sustainable way of living. This is going on all over the world with increasing momentum, from the rise of alternative clean energy use, emerging local economies, cooperatives, small-scale agriculture, to the development of earth-friendly materials to replace non-degradable stuff. Hundreds of organizations are working to build a conscious, caring economy, and a truly democratic system. (See a few favorites in Resources for Inspired Action.) Two great sources for positive news are The Optimist Daily and YES! magazine. It is vitally important that we get a big dose of good news to balance the in-our-face bad news the mass media serves us.
Change of consciousness: In this realm we inform ourselves about what’s really going on. Visionary activist Helena Norberg-Hodge believes that one of the most powerful forms of resistance is awareness—informing ourselves and others about the realities of our destructive system so we can create truly sustainable solutions. She calls this “awareness activism.” And as Joanna Macy instructs, we must be unafraid to face the hard truths, and to let our hearts break. It is only by engaging this process that we can free ourselves from hopelessness, helplessness, depression and apathy to take meaningful action. It is truly revolutionary activism at the deepest level, and the only way we can bear the unbearable. [See my Reflection on Despair] As Gandhi tells us, “Be the change we wish to see in the world.”
The Motivation for Our Activism: Many people who join protest marches are justifiably angry and frustrated at circumstances. We need to expose and confront injustice and corruption, but violent, mean-spirited confrontations that harm people and property are more likely to turn people off to our cause than a march that is imbued with positive energy. Picture the climate marchers in New York and Paris, many decked out in colorful costumes, carrying bright banners, with linked arms and happy faces. These folks were having fun, while having a huge impact on policymakers. All good.
One of the most influential books I’ve read recently is Creating A World That Works For All, by Sharif Abdullah. He puts it this way: “For those wishing to create a better world there is a dual purpose in our activism: to transform ourselves and to transform the world. The principal tool to produce that change is compassion. Many of us are motivated more by anger at what is wrong than expectant joy at what could be right. We need to try not to act from anger or fear."
Stepping it up: Given the increasingly violent rhetoric and actions of our day, the continuing deterioration of ecosystems, and the deepening polarity between people, it is time to step up our activism in whatever way fits our personal nature and style, our time and energy. As Dr. Jean Shimoda Bolen says, “Your cause, your assignment, is directed by what’s meaningful to you personally.”
Let me count the ways: There are many ways to think about and practice activism. This excellent article from YES! magazine gives us “17 Ways You Can Work for Social Justice."
Don’t discount the value of your attitude to bring about change, or your working on a subtle level to envision what we want. Studies prove this practice of envisioning what is desirable—subtle or spiritual activism—is very effective.
This sounds contradictory, but we need to have fun at this serious business of making change. We still need to celebrate life, to feel awe and wonder at the magnificence of our planet. We can go about our day in a slow and mindful manner, staying in a place of love, compassion and kindness as much as possible in relation to ourselves, other people and Nature.
We should also take seriously the power of “clicking,” and digital activism. Think of President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone pipeline, Shell’s withdrawal from drilling in the Arctic, and other successes that have been effective in part because of “mass clicking.”
May we all be creative activists in service to greater harmony on Earth.
Favorite Resources & Quotes
YES! magazine
The Optimist Daily
Desert Rose Press: The "Never Doubt" card, with well-known quotes by activists, is available at our press website.
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do little.
Edmund Burke,
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Marching without heart is just motion. Speeches without love are just words. . . Collective resistance alongside creative, joyful envisioning of change at the systemic level create humane and ethical uprisings.
Sharif Abdullah
Truth or Con?
Can we discern the truth from a con? Can we tell the difference between an honest statement and spin? Up until recently most of us believed that “free trade” and a “free market” were good things for us, things that would benefit and enhance our lives. But we’ve discovered, with the help of organizations and people who are working to analyze and expose what these words really mean, that these two ideas and practices are not at all good for people or the planet.
In her book Getting a Grip, Frances Moore Lappe´ discusses how a market should be “open, competitive and trustworthy.” These days only community farmer’s markets fit that description. Nationally and globally our economy is run by a few large corporations. She calls our system the “one-rule economy,” namely, highest return to existing wealth. She says, “No market so tightly controlled [by so few corporations] can fairly be called ‘free.”
As for “free trade,” yes, it is free in that it gives corporations free rein and free reign to do as they wish to maximize profits, including suing local, regional and even national governments if they have rules that infringe on corporate profits. Read Fraud Alert by David Korten to see how the spin of “free” works to hide the truth.
What’s true? Much as we want to, we know we can’t rely on companies or government to tell us the true or whole story about any given idea. We need to take the responsibility to inform ourselves by going to sources that have nothing personal to gain, sources that are advocating for and serving the common good. Find people and organizations you can trust to tell you what’s a con and what’s the truth. Also, trust your gut and your instincts. You know when somebody’s lying, saying what they know we want to hear, not what’s true. I listen to corporate media knowing they have their particular agenda. I make sure to get other news as well.
There are thousands of great organizations and people who are working to co-create a world that works for all and the planet. Seek them out. Here are some I rely on.
NEWS SOURCES
YES! magazine
CommonDreams
Truthout
The Huffington Post
The Optimist Daily
SOME FAVORITE CHANGE-MAKER GROUPS
Public Citizen
Small Planet Institute
Network of Spiritual Progressives
The Next System Project
The Shift Network
Local Futures
Project Heaven on Earth
In her book Getting a Grip, Frances Moore Lappe´ discusses how a market should be “open, competitive and trustworthy.” These days only community farmer’s markets fit that description. Nationally and globally our economy is run by a few large corporations. She calls our system the “one-rule economy,” namely, highest return to existing wealth. She says, “No market so tightly controlled [by so few corporations] can fairly be called ‘free.”
As for “free trade,” yes, it is free in that it gives corporations free rein and free reign to do as they wish to maximize profits, including suing local, regional and even national governments if they have rules that infringe on corporate profits. Read Fraud Alert by David Korten to see how the spin of “free” works to hide the truth.
What’s true? Much as we want to, we know we can’t rely on companies or government to tell us the true or whole story about any given idea. We need to take the responsibility to inform ourselves by going to sources that have nothing personal to gain, sources that are advocating for and serving the common good. Find people and organizations you can trust to tell you what’s a con and what’s the truth. Also, trust your gut and your instincts. You know when somebody’s lying, saying what they know we want to hear, not what’s true. I listen to corporate media knowing they have their particular agenda. I make sure to get other news as well.
There are thousands of great organizations and people who are working to co-create a world that works for all and the planet. Seek them out. Here are some I rely on.
NEWS SOURCES
YES! magazine
CommonDreams
Truthout
The Huffington Post
The Optimist Daily
SOME FAVORITE CHANGE-MAKER GROUPS
Public Citizen
Small Planet Institute
Network of Spiritual Progressives
The Next System Project
The Shift Network
Local Futures
Project Heaven on Earth
The Desirable Story
I don’t care whom you voted for or against, or even if you didn’t vote at all. What I do care about is:1) that we understand and deal effectively with the pain most people in this country are in, 2) that we use this election as a wakeup call to look deeply at the reality of our present situation, 3) that we look at how and where we go from here, and 4) that we recognize that we have one common home—Earth—and we need to work and live for the common good of all.
Looking more deeply at pain, my own and others'
This election has shown us how much pain people in this country are in. Working-class folks are understandably angry that the American Dream is an illusion, that they are struggling financially, that much attention is focused on specific groups like Black Lives Matter, LGBT, immigrants and women, while they are seemingly ignored.
We deal with emotional or psychic pain as individuals, but we are not encouraged to understand or deal consciously and effectively with pain within our culture. It takes great courage to allow our pain to surface, to express the hurt so that it doesn’t come out as hatred, anger, blame and scapegoating “the other.”
If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person’s story enough suffering and sorrow there to disarm all hostilities.
—Longfellow
More than anything, I think it would help if we recognize that the economic and political system that benefits only a few is at the root of a great deal of the pain people feel. Until we address that, people will continue to suffer and express their pain in anger and hatred of one another. We have an unjust and unsustainable system that puts profit over people and the planet.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. —Matthew 8:12
My own “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is primarily about how this election was such a shocking assault on the human values of dignity, civility, respect and inclusiveness. It’s about how it unleashed and tolerated violence, anger, hatred, meanness and fear-mongering. That energy is now embedded in our future president! It makes me unbearably sad to see what we are doing to each other, to other living beings and to the planet. If the description of the steps of the grieving process are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, then I am definitely not done grieving because I continue to cycle through these phases.
If you are grieving, for whatever reason, you might find my column on Despair helpful. (February 2015)
Reality, Crisis, Opportunity
We need to look squarely and clearly at the reality and dangers ahead of us. I’m not talking about reality in the spiritual sense with a capital R. I’m talking about the reality in the United States at this post-election moment. We have much to worry about for the safety of people of color, non-Christian people, immigrants, people with different gender identities. We have much to worry about for the health of the environment. We must be watchful for and counter the rising tide of hatred and hate crimes, standing up to injustice with fierce love. We also need to recognize that there are people who want to maintain the status quo, who actually want to generate hate, to persecute and malign others. This is a harsh reality.
So what do we do? To paraphrase Fr. Richard Rohr, We need to learn how to live in hope, joy and freedom even when and if the so-called bad guys are in charge. Prepare for the worst. As we say in Christian language, be prepared for the cross. Be prepared for things to fall apart. Hope and work for the best.
Part of our wakeup call is realizing we need to connect with each other in ways we haven’t tried before. We need to listen and try to understand widely divergent points of view so that we may find common ground. We need to see beyond our ethnic, gender, political, religious and class identities, and see each other first as brother and sister human beings.
There is also great opportunity now for justice and peace movements to come together. We can see that this is already happening. Just look at the large and diverse support at Standing Rock to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. There is growing awareness that our economic and political system must change for the good of people and the planet. States and local communities are taking action to end political corruption and build strong local economies. I heartily recommend YES! magazine and The Optimist to bring you this kind of news.
Where and how do we go from here?
First of all, let us envision a desirable story, a desirable society, a desirable planet future. We can spend a great deal of time “beating the drum of what we don’t want.” (Esther Hicks, The Law of Attraction). That attitude is all the more likely to bring about that reality. We must condemn and resist any behavior or policy that undermines the well being of people and the planet, but we must also focus on and work for what we DO want. Let us not be so much “anti-something or someone” as “for.” Let’s adopt the example of the Native Americans and people at Standing Rock who demonstrate as protectors, not protesters, in their nonviolent effort to stop the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Enjoy the heartening photo in my newsletter of the kid holding the sign, HONK FOR KINDNESS. Yes, that is what we are for.
Whatever activism we engage in, how we do it—our spirit and attitude—is as important as what we do. I like CODEPINK’s call to us: "Rise, Love, Resist." To that I would add that we need to inform ourselves and build systems in our local communities that do work. We need to support people who will work for positive change. In spite of already busy lives, we need to make room for activism. My column on activism (July 2016) will give you some ideas.
We are determined to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. —Martin Luther King, Jr. 1955
Our common home
If we imagine all Earth’s people living in one house on five acres, we’d have to figure out how to get along, how to feed and provide water for everyone, among other things. If someone dug up the garden looking for gold, we’d have to choose between eating and having useless pieces of metal around. We wouldn’t tolerate someone trashing the kitchen and not cleaning it up. We’d learn to share. We’d learn to resolve conflicts and disagreement without shooting one another. We would make decisions for the common good.
HONK FOR OUR COMMON HOME!
Looking more deeply at pain, my own and others'
This election has shown us how much pain people in this country are in. Working-class folks are understandably angry that the American Dream is an illusion, that they are struggling financially, that much attention is focused on specific groups like Black Lives Matter, LGBT, immigrants and women, while they are seemingly ignored.
We deal with emotional or psychic pain as individuals, but we are not encouraged to understand or deal consciously and effectively with pain within our culture. It takes great courage to allow our pain to surface, to express the hurt so that it doesn’t come out as hatred, anger, blame and scapegoating “the other.”
If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person’s story enough suffering and sorrow there to disarm all hostilities.
—Longfellow
More than anything, I think it would help if we recognize that the economic and political system that benefits only a few is at the root of a great deal of the pain people feel. Until we address that, people will continue to suffer and express their pain in anger and hatred of one another. We have an unjust and unsustainable system that puts profit over people and the planet.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. —Matthew 8:12
My own “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is primarily about how this election was such a shocking assault on the human values of dignity, civility, respect and inclusiveness. It’s about how it unleashed and tolerated violence, anger, hatred, meanness and fear-mongering. That energy is now embedded in our future president! It makes me unbearably sad to see what we are doing to each other, to other living beings and to the planet. If the description of the steps of the grieving process are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, then I am definitely not done grieving because I continue to cycle through these phases.
If you are grieving, for whatever reason, you might find my column on Despair helpful. (February 2015)
Reality, Crisis, Opportunity
We need to look squarely and clearly at the reality and dangers ahead of us. I’m not talking about reality in the spiritual sense with a capital R. I’m talking about the reality in the United States at this post-election moment. We have much to worry about for the safety of people of color, non-Christian people, immigrants, people with different gender identities. We have much to worry about for the health of the environment. We must be watchful for and counter the rising tide of hatred and hate crimes, standing up to injustice with fierce love. We also need to recognize that there are people who want to maintain the status quo, who actually want to generate hate, to persecute and malign others. This is a harsh reality.
So what do we do? To paraphrase Fr. Richard Rohr, We need to learn how to live in hope, joy and freedom even when and if the so-called bad guys are in charge. Prepare for the worst. As we say in Christian language, be prepared for the cross. Be prepared for things to fall apart. Hope and work for the best.
Part of our wakeup call is realizing we need to connect with each other in ways we haven’t tried before. We need to listen and try to understand widely divergent points of view so that we may find common ground. We need to see beyond our ethnic, gender, political, religious and class identities, and see each other first as brother and sister human beings.
There is also great opportunity now for justice and peace movements to come together. We can see that this is already happening. Just look at the large and diverse support at Standing Rock to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. There is growing awareness that our economic and political system must change for the good of people and the planet. States and local communities are taking action to end political corruption and build strong local economies. I heartily recommend YES! magazine and The Optimist to bring you this kind of news.
Where and how do we go from here?
First of all, let us envision a desirable story, a desirable society, a desirable planet future. We can spend a great deal of time “beating the drum of what we don’t want.” (Esther Hicks, The Law of Attraction). That attitude is all the more likely to bring about that reality. We must condemn and resist any behavior or policy that undermines the well being of people and the planet, but we must also focus on and work for what we DO want. Let us not be so much “anti-something or someone” as “for.” Let’s adopt the example of the Native Americans and people at Standing Rock who demonstrate as protectors, not protesters, in their nonviolent effort to stop the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Enjoy the heartening photo in my newsletter of the kid holding the sign, HONK FOR KINDNESS. Yes, that is what we are for.
Whatever activism we engage in, how we do it—our spirit and attitude—is as important as what we do. I like CODEPINK’s call to us: "Rise, Love, Resist." To that I would add that we need to inform ourselves and build systems in our local communities that do work. We need to support people who will work for positive change. In spite of already busy lives, we need to make room for activism. My column on activism (July 2016) will give you some ideas.
We are determined to work and fight until justice runs down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. —Martin Luther King, Jr. 1955
Our common home
If we imagine all Earth’s people living in one house on five acres, we’d have to figure out how to get along, how to feed and provide water for everyone, among other things. If someone dug up the garden looking for gold, we’d have to choose between eating and having useless pieces of metal around. We wouldn’t tolerate someone trashing the kitchen and not cleaning it up. We’d learn to share. We’d learn to resolve conflicts and disagreement without shooting one another. We would make decisions for the common good.
HONK FOR OUR COMMON HOME!