A Love Letter to All of Us
Dear Beloveds,
In the midst of life’s chaos and uncertainties, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The weight of the world can make the heart heavy, especially when faced with challenges to democracy, women’s rights, and those of marginalized communities. I know a host of emotions can ebb and flow before you have even finished your morning cup of coffee.
Yet, we have weathered storms before. "We" meaning the connection we share with humanity and history. It certainly hasn’t been easy; we’ve faced loss and hardship, but we’ve also found resilience and strength.
We have fought like Harriet.
We have been to the mountaintop with Martin.
We’ve been to Stonewall with Marsha P. Johnson.
We have armed ourselves by "any means necessary," like Malcolm.
We know that the revolution will not be televised as Gil Scott-Heron said.
We move like Michelle Obama, knowing that courage can be contagious and take on a life of its own.
We bring our own folding chair to the table when there isn’t a seat for us, just as Shirley Chisholm said to do.
We have seen the unimaginable, and yet we still have the courage to rise up and continue to fight.
Take a moment for yourself, dear one. Breathe gently and be kind to your heart. Don't forget to laugh. Seek connections within your community, rally in solidarity with those whose voices they are trying to silence, even though we will NEVER disappear!
You are not alone in this struggle. Your feelings ARE valid, and it’s ok to experience them fully. It’s ok to lay down your burdens for a time and pick them up later, for they are not going anywhere. So, you-scream, yell, breathe deeply, pray, meditate, dance, create, and engage. Know that your “best” will look different day to day, and that’s part of the journey.
Keep on Keepin' on, Beloved.
LISTEN: "Stand Up" by Cynthia Erivo
In the midst of life’s chaos and uncertainties, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The weight of the world can make the heart heavy, especially when faced with challenges to democracy, women’s rights, and those of marginalized communities. I know a host of emotions can ebb and flow before you have even finished your morning cup of coffee.
Yet, we have weathered storms before. "We" meaning the connection we share with humanity and history. It certainly hasn’t been easy; we’ve faced loss and hardship, but we’ve also found resilience and strength.
We have fought like Harriet.
We have been to the mountaintop with Martin.
We’ve been to Stonewall with Marsha P. Johnson.
We have armed ourselves by "any means necessary," like Malcolm.
We know that the revolution will not be televised as Gil Scott-Heron said.
We move like Michelle Obama, knowing that courage can be contagious and take on a life of its own.
We bring our own folding chair to the table when there isn’t a seat for us, just as Shirley Chisholm said to do.
We have seen the unimaginable, and yet we still have the courage to rise up and continue to fight.
Take a moment for yourself, dear one. Breathe gently and be kind to your heart. Don't forget to laugh. Seek connections within your community, rally in solidarity with those whose voices they are trying to silence, even though we will NEVER disappear!
You are not alone in this struggle. Your feelings ARE valid, and it’s ok to experience them fully. It’s ok to lay down your burdens for a time and pick them up later, for they are not going anywhere. So, you-scream, yell, breathe deeply, pray, meditate, dance, create, and engage. Know that your “best” will look different day to day, and that’s part of the journey.
Keep on Keepin' on, Beloved.
LISTEN: "Stand Up" by Cynthia Erivo
Posted in Congregational Life Corner