Early this morning, after staying up to hear the news about the UK voting to leave the European Union, I posted this message to friends on Facebook:
This (Brexit, Trump) is what comes of the obsession with deficits post-2008 and the growing disparity in incomes. The 90% feel enraged and abandoned, looking for someone to blame, voting their fears.
I don’t know when I have felt so pessimistic. Time for Shabbat.
Then I did a bit of housework, always good therapy. I saw messages from friends, including an exhortation to “Look for the good, it’s still there” from a friend who sees much more of the trouble in the world close up than I do, a nurse who spent much of the last week watching over the victims of Orlando. These good angels made me rethink my bad mood.
This is not the time to succumb to the blues. There is important work to do in this world. There are things that CAN be made right. We can fix our broken institutions here in the U.S. It isn’t too late to have a functioning Supreme Court, a Congress where they actually vote on bills that matter, and an economic system that brings a decent life to everyone, not just to the wealthy.
I am tired right now. That SCOTUS non-result that has hurt immigrants hurt my heart. Brexit hurts people for whom I care very much. The reaction of those well-meaning people at the local Republican HQ – “Trump isn’t ours, please go away” – chilled me. Orlando shocked me to my bones.
And yet:
Last weekend I saw my youngest married to a good woman. I saw a new generation of my family begin. I saw that my sons are grown and they are good men. So I refuse to give up hope in the world.
Last weekend I was reminded what a precious and wonderful “family of choice” I have. The people who have chosen to love me and my children are a tribe of our own, built from what seemed, 30 years ago, to be the wreckage of my life. I have children of my body and adopted children, a brother I adore and adopted siblings who would walk through fire for me, ex-in-laws who have been dear to me ever since I met them in the fall of 1973. I have my beloved and beshert, Linda, and to our mutual amazement, we are legally married! So I refuse to give up on the world.
Last week I saw an outpouring of support for the gay men and other Q people and allies murdered in Orlando. There were a few haters. There were people who used it as another opportunity to demonize Muslims. But the vast majority of people saw those gay men as human beings, and saw the shooter as what he was: a hate filled individual who used Daesh/ISIS as his excuse. Even ten years ago, the reaction would have been quite different. So I refuse to give up hope in the world.
Last Monday night I was the guest of Muslim neighbors at their iftar. I saw the earnest seeking after true spiritual growth. I felt the welcome of generous spirits, and I listened to fears and worries that were very much like my own. I am convinced that the Holy One at the center of our attention is the same One. Their love for our country is the same as mine. I refuse to give up hope in the world.
I’m going to keep Shabbat, and let Shabbat keep me this week. Shabbat shalom, my friends. We will still do good in this world, whatever happens.
You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period—I am addressing myself to the School—surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. –Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941
Your title invokes such a wondered image to keep close by…thank you for this 😃
Shabbat shalom Shulamit
Rabbi Shulamit Cenker 245 Union Boulevard #803 St Louis, MO 63108 312.975.8599 ravashulamit@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Rabbi Cenker!
Beautiful piece and so true. We allow the downside to control our reactions and we obsess about the bad. How right you are to throw yourself into the arms of the good
That statement from Churchill is so powerful. It supported the British through the bombing during the war, and the same spirit supports the Israelis through the terror.
I don’t remember when I first read the statement from Churchill – a long time ago for sure. And yes, it reminds me very much of the attitude of many of the Israelis I know.
How I appreciate your optimism! Like you, I too used this Shabbat to do something constructive to give me a boost. I wrote my State Congresswoman, and two Senators telling I want them to do their the jobs they were elected to do and enact gun control. Time is way overdue on this issue.
Agreed, Sheila! Writing to elected officials is a good way to make a difference.
hope that that Shalom Shabbat buoyed your spirit, Rabbi Ruth
I really needed to read this Rabbi. Thanks for always sharing with love and wisdom.