10/4/2020 The depth of our connection
What a week. You are entirely forgiven if it seems like more than 8 days ago that the president made his latest nomination to the Supreme Court. Taxes, an obnoxious debate, and now a diagnosis have all wrenched our attention since then.
Because this administration and its enablers have inured us to lies and misinformation, many are reacting with skepticism to the stories coming from the White House. It's a painful reminder of the confidence lost over the last four years.
It feels like we all need a reminder of the depth of our human connection to counterbalance these events.
Even the efforts to divide us using fear are based on an understanding of the commonality of our emotions. Look within the stories designed to frighten us, and see what we share: love of family, love of community, love of life. It is by threatening these loves of ours that the fear mongers seek to divide us.
But we know better. Inside each of us is an inner voice that sings in harmony with all other humans, indeed all creatures. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to turn our attention away from this voice. Notice how hard the fear mongers have to work. They cannot let their guard down for a moment, or our awareness of the fullness of our connection returns and flourishes. They must continually generate stories of chaos, violence, confusion, threat, animosity. They must continually stoke the metaphors of war and battle.
And I realize we are being called to fight. This is not a moment for passivity. The need to resist is real.
Our resistance is forged in our refusal to be turned against one another. We do not fight to "win" in a reductionist sense that requires a corresponding "loser."
We fight to ensure the truth of our humanity rings loud and clear across this dearly beloved planet. We fight to ensure that no human is defined as expendable, less than human, or monstrous. We fight to hold on to our loves: our families, our communities, our living earth.
Those who turn to fear and lies in order to lead are weak. The only way they can portray themselves as strong is to diminish the rest of us. If we believe their narrative, we are complicit in diminishing ourselves.
If we believe in ourselves, and one another, we will find our way together.
Vote, take care of yourselves, and be well.
Sent with love and gratitude,
Liz