Bruce Almighty
The Boss said what so many of us want to say...but feel too lost or afraid to admit
Several weeks ago, I was in a small group. Around a circle, we shared about where we are and how we are feeling.
When my turn came, I said, “I don’t know what to say.”
The group leader replied, “Just tell us what is on your heart.”
Oh oh, I thought. This is a “Who’s on first?” moment.
I continued, “I don’t know what to say. Really. I don’t know what to say. I’m a writer. I’m supposed to say things. But I can’t. I don’t know what to say. That’s it.”
They still seemed baffled.
And then I added, “That’s where I am. That’s what I feel. I’m without words. It is devastating to be a writer and not know what to say.”
The others realized what I meant.
A woman in the circle responded, “Oh, honey. None of us do. Nobody knows what to say.” The other women agreed. They all started talking about what they wanted to say but couldn’t.
“I just want to tell my parents how angry I am at them for voting Trump.”
“I’m furious at what is happening to the immigrants in my city.”
“The corruption is appalling.”
“I don’t even recognize America any more.”
“My heart is broken. And I think those in power enjoy my pain.”
”Why are they doing this to us?”
”I’m so afraid.”
The leader had trouble regaining a modicum of control.
And then I realized: “I don’t know what to say” was the truest thing I’d said in months — and in articulating those words I was speaking for many.
The women thanked me for being courageous enough to speak about my own silence.
Last night, Bruce Springsteen opened his “Land of Hope and Dreams” Tour in Manchester, England. (My writing and online friend, Joan Walsh of The Nation, reported on it HERE.) And Bruce proved himself fearless — saying exactly what needed to be said.
The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, and music, and rock ’n’ roll in dangerous times!
In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.
Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring.
If you think this wasn’t purposeful, you’d be wrong. Bruce not only said it but had it filmed and posted on his own website.
His five-minute remarks are a prophetic sermon about community, liberation, and the power of people to stand for truth. It even ends with a James Baldwin quote (the full quote is below) and a prayer.
Watch it. Please. It doesn’t take long.
That’s the best sermon I’ve heard in a while.
For months now, I’ve been encouraging, begging, insisting, nagging — all of the “ings” — for you, for preachers, for congregations, and for denominations to speak out, stand up, and proclaim love and justice. To be honest about the crisis we’ve (sadly) helped create by our own silence.
America is in danger. Bad things are happening, inhumane and amoral things. And, from a biblical perspective, sinful and evil things.
They are being done in your name — the name of your country and your religion.
Some of you have been bold speaking out. Some are taking risks. I’m so grateful. You’ve done — and are doing — the right thing.
But we all know that far too many Christians have been afraid to speak up. Unsure of what to say. Worried about hurting someone’s feelings or “dividing” a church (truth is, we’re already divided — we’re just not talking about it). Afraid of what they might say.
If you don’t know what to say, say that. Say you are unsure, afraid, worried.
The more we speak truth, the more truth we discover. The more we sing, the more strength we’ll find. The more we preach, the more love we’ll create.
And the more words we share from our souls, the more courage we’ll create.
Speak now. Sing now. Proclaim now.
Or, we may forever lose the freedom to do so again.
There may not be as much humanity in the world as one would like to see. But there is some. There's more than one would think.
In any case, if you break faith with what you know, that's a betrayal of many, many, many, many people. I may know six people, but that's enough. Love has never been a popular movement and no one's ever wanted really to be free.
The world is held togther, really it is held together, by the love and the passion of very few people. Otherwise, of course you're in despair. Walk down the street of any city, any afternoon, and look around you. What you've got to remember is what you're looking at is also you. Everyone you're looking at is also you. You could be that person. You could be that person, you could be that cop. And you have to decide in yourself not to be.
— James Baldwin
It’s May.
This is the Cottage birthday month — and we’ve turned 5!
Five years of inspiration and thoughtful commentary on politics and culture. Five years of honest reflection on Christian nationalism. Five years of Sunday Musings. Five years of surprising interviews. Five years of gracious and insightful comments from nice people online!
Five years of not giving up or giving in.
Five years of being together through it all.
If you’ve enjoyed the Cottage, please consider supporting this project with a paid subscription. During May, a NEW yearly subscription is 20% off forever. Instead of $50 a year, you pay only $40.
You can also give a gift to a friend for that same great rate.
Thank you. Your support and encouragement keeps me speaking up!
Here’s the official video of the song, “Land of Hope and Dreams.”
This Train
Dreams will not be thwarted
This Train
Faith will be rewarded
This Train
Hear the steel wheels singin'
This Train
Bells of freedom ringin'
— Bruce Springsteen
I'm a Canadian. For two separate stretches, I lived, studied and worked in the U.S. I have cherished friends in that country, and beautiful memories of my time there. It worries and saddens me numerous times every day, to read and hear about the latest grim manipulations of the current administration. I worry more about the things we don't hear about. Bruce Springsteen said it so well. It's far from a perfect nation, but it's a pretty good idea. I won't be visiting anytime soon, and I am working to dis-connect as much as I can from your economy, which may mean pulling the plug on Substack. But I do hope and pray that you all keep talking to each other, and figure out a way to make the good idea more real, again.
I decided yesterday to preach a four-part (non-lectionary) sermon series starting the Sunday after Pentecost on resistance. The four topics are Truth Telling as Resistance, Rest as Resistance, Joy as Resistance, and Art as Resistance. This is priming my preaching pump, especially for the fourth of these. Thank you for, once again, helping me preach.