Flooding the Zone with Goodness

Pay attention. Really. It is important.

Dear Cottage friends,

Today’s post is more of a letter than an essay. That’s because I’m thinking hard about what’s going on in the world around us — and feeling the tensions and strains of these days more than I had expected a few weeks ago.

One of the strategies of authoritarians is to “flood the zone” with endless performative stunts, fabrications and lies, and ever-upped incendiary rhetoric to exhaust people. This is done so that we — regular citizens who are busy attending to our own lives — stop paying attention to current events, tune out, and then either don’t vote or waste our votes. And, of course, those same leaders want us to be quiet, to not speak truth in the public square or even to each other.

Last week, I was at an event at Georgetown University, hosted by my friend Jim Wallis, called the Test of Democracy. It was a good event (more about it below in the video from The Convocation) with GREAT people who are giving their all to rise to this political moment. In effect, they are trying to “flood the zone” with goodness, truth, and genuine hope to counter the noise of the authoritarian nationalists.

It was striking how many speakers and panelists quoted Matthew 25 — “whatever you do for the least of these.” That’s a favorite text of mine, too. I often quote it in sermons and speeches.

However, right now I’m also thinking about Matthew 24:

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs…But about that day and hour no one knows…Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

No, I don’t have an overactive apocalyptic imagination! Instead, I can’t help but notice Jesus’ call to keep paying attention even during the worst of events.

This passage usually appears in the lectionary during Advent. In that part of the Christian year it serves to remind Christians to stay watchful (one of the main themes of Advent) and stay focused on the coming of God’s reign in the world.

We’re not in Advent. And yet — we are in a “keep watch” time. Election Day won’t bring in the Kingdom of God, of course. But it marks a day, a shift in the body politic and a nation’s identity and future.

And, boy howdy, are there ever wars and rumors of war. Nearly everyone I know is alarmed.

This election season can remind us that there is THE Advent, the religious season in December that anticipates the Kingdom, and there are advents in the world and our lives, seasons where we wait and watch for an event or anticipated change. Advent (with a capital “A”) is singular, unique, and theological in nature; the little advents happen more often, and this political moment seems to be one of those advents. Something is coming. We don’t know what. We anticipate. But it isn’t the kind of anticipation of Christmas — an Advent that leads to present opening and a baby in a manager. It is genuine uncertainty leading up to an election and then its aftermath. This isn’t a good Advent kind of waiting. It is just an advent. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting for some political event in the future — one over which we feel we have little control.

And that’s why I’m thinking about Matthew 24.

When his weary, anxious friends asked him about the end of the age, Jesus told them not to be alarmed but to be ready. He wanted them to pay attention and look past their fears to see the intimations of the kingdom of God’s justice and love just beyond the horizon.

What does it mean not to be alarmed but to be ready in these treacherous advent days? I think it means finding friends, listening to the right voices, and continuing in faith, hope, and love.

That’s why many good people are standing up and speaking out.

Please don’t ignore everything that comes your way. I know there are so many essays and articles and podcasts about faith and politics right now. Every day, there are worthy causes and worthy candidates asking for money and resources in your email. It is hard to keep up. Hard to pay attention. The temptation is to stop paying attention. To the annoying things. And then to everything. It would be easier to hole up and hide for the next forty days. Because you are probably exhausted.

That’s what the authoritarians want.

Look for and listen to those who are flooding the zone with goodness. Stay focused on caring for one another, encouraging each other, and strengthening courage in community. We can all make this advent journey together.

To that end, I’m sharing a podcast today, an episode of the Convocation Unscripted, one that I recorded with my friends Robby, Kirstin, and Jemar immediately following the Georgetown gathering (we all spoke there). And I’m also sharing a very short video from Tim Whitaker, a friend of the Cottage who founded the New Evangelicals project. It is about his response to the same conference — and I think you’ll love it and find it super encouraging.

Trust me, I’m not trying to wear you out. I’m trying to lift you up!

We can be tired, yes. Bone tired even. But every time we take one more advent step toward the horizon, we push back on authoritarianism and Christian nationalism. Love wins when we walk, even when weary.

Reach out. You may be surprised to find that someone is right there to pull you along.

Keep with it. Pay attention.

Love, Diana

PS: Remember my favorite Epiphany hymn last year — Take Us Home By Another Way? Time to listen again!!! From songwriter Christopher Grundy. You won’t be sorry to hear this one again:

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DIANA’S AXIOM OF FAITH AND POLITICS

The Christians who do speak about faith and politics
are the very ones who shouldn’t.
While those who should speak about faith and politics
are the very ones who don’t.

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The Convocation Unscripted, Recorded Live in Washington, DC

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Latest episode of The New Evangelicals Respond, “What REAL Christians Politics Looks Like”

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