As tensions rise, knowing what to do does not come with easy answers for most of us.
We have been faced with a seemingly relentless pandemic and a reawakening to the reality of discrimination, violence, mistrust, and hatred with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Parts of our great cities have been burned and looted as cries for social justice are compromised by lawlessness. Alongside all of this, the fragile mitigation of COVID-19 is threatened as people flock together without regard to social distancing or wearing of masks. What are we to do?
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything.”
We have a Zoom gathering of old friends every Sunday where glasses of wine toast another week survived. None of the six of us are exactly Spring Chickens. Let's just say we have been around long enough to be called elders. None of this "senior" business for us. We're just Baby Boomers with wrinkles and lots of experiences. All six served as professionals in fields providing direct service to those who suffer. And each has been active in spiritual/religious life.
We have shaken things up from time to time. So, when the question arose last Sunday, there was a moment of silence and hesitation. "What am I supposed to do?" In the face of these most recent crises, when confronted with hate-filled, conspiracy theory laden, fear and anger, "What am I supposed to say?" Though we batted the questions around and processed our feelings and worries , no answer was ever offered. And, I suppose, that’s because there isn’t any single response that fits all situations. Maybe the questions are more important than any answers.
Questions lead us away from the raging storm into a place of consideration and contemplation. We breathe for a moment and think before doing anything. Just think. Any of us can choose to fan the flames of violence with what we say and do...or, by our silence, can implicitly give permission to hate. But, we can also chose to use our words and actions to object with respect, stand nonviolently in solidarity, and offer healing by intently listening and finding common ground.
Nobody is untouched or undisturbed over the turbulent happenings of 2020. It seems like one thing after another keeps trying to pile on as we rush headlong into disaster. Governmental leaders are trying to do their best, but the results haven't been so good. But one calm, positive, compassionate voice will make an incredible difference. One leader, followed by a choir of others can right our ship and help us find our way. Senator Robert Kennedy gave that kind of speech in 1968 Indianapolis after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King. It didn't magically bind up all of our wounds, but rather gave us direction and reminded us of who we were. It reset the tone. I've listened to it several times lately, and offer its timely words for all of our readers today. There is a way back to sanity. We have all the right stuff to rise above the suffering. A new age of social justice and an awakening to better understanding one another is at hand. Be that one voice to make it happen.