My sister sent this passage from Rebecca Solnit first thing this morning which was reassuring and helped direct my disoriented dissapointment. I hope that everyone who reads it feels a bit of reassurance:
"They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving. You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in. Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love.
The Wobblies used to say don't mourn, organize, but you can do both at once and you don't have to organize right away in this moment of furious mourning. You can be heartbroken or furious or both at once; you can scream in your car or on a cliff; you can also get up tomorrow and water the flowerpots and call someone who's upset and check your equipment for going onward.
A lot of us are going to come under direct attack, and a lot of us are going to resist by building solidarity and sanctuary. Gather up your resources, the metaphysical ones that are heart and soul and care, as well as the practical ones.
People kept the faith in the dictatorships of South America in the 1970s and 1980s, in the East Bloc countries and the USSR, women are protesting right now in Iran and people there are writing poetry. There is no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it's sunny or raining. Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed."
Today I’ve felt mostly numbness and sadness. I just read David Gushee’s Substack post, and am now even more sad. Thank you, Diana, for being a voice for hope.
A dear friend forwarded me this article, and I am thankful for the uplifting words…..where it is feeling very dark, sad, and confusing right now, I have to have faith that everything will be ok. It is time now to focus on what matters most….our family, our friends, and our health🙏🏻❤️
I’m so grateful for all of this. But especially for the knowledge that there are that many of us here, in this strange digital sanctuary, together. We created this kind of community we’d never dreamed possible a few years ago, right? Surely that’s worth something.
I was grateful to read your email here in the UK. I couldn't find words to express my feelings. As others have said, I do believe that 'all shall be well' but we face extremely difficult times.
Please find below a Prayer for America by Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields the Church on the edge of Trafalgar Square, London.
Mysterious God, your ways are sometimes hard to fathom and your purposes amid the turmoil of life are sometimes hard to perceive. Bless America. Be close today to those who behold the election result with dismay. Be with migrants who fear hostility and deportation. Uphold women who anticipate disrespect and feel their wellbeing in jeopardy. Give hope to the people of Ukraine who imagine a perilous future. Have mercy on the Palestinian people who wonder if their faint hope of a future has been extinguished. Sustain all throughout your world who sense the peril of the planet and its ecosystem. Make each one of us quicker to understand than to condemn, eager to work together even with those with whom we profoundly disagree, and hopeful despite despair. As you have so many times before, surprise us with what your Holy Spirit can do in the face of setback and bewilderment; and draw us to that place of surprise, that we may in some small way be part of it. In Christ your risen Son our Lord. Amen.
I feel such a deep loss- respect/trust for those l thought would support Kamala’s agenda . I am afraid of what DT will unleash and Congress can’t or won’t halt it! I know l need to follow the teachings of Jesus right but l need help- God in your mercy.
I have so much to say, but I do not have the words! I wish I could say something positive and uplifting but all I can do right now as you suggest is breathe and take it slow. Thank you, Diana so very much for these beautiful words, your compassion, and encouragement!
I'm sad and afraid as I look forward today, though not as surprised as I was 8 years ago. I fear for our economy, our free press, our judicial system. I hold in my heart the young women who will continue to die due to lack of reproductive health care, my gay and trans friends, and especially the immigrant community, who have been subject to such vile rhetoric during the campaign.
As I did in 2016, I return to my baptismal promises, particularly these two lines:
Celebrant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
Someone wrote in the New York Times that they went to sleep last night in America and woke up this morning in 1939 Germany. I grieve but I also fear. I would not be surprised if Substack is found to be a criminal forum and all of its contributors charged with being subversives. This time is different from previous political divides.
Oh Diana. Thank you for all you are doing to reach out and give soul nurturing sustenance on this dread filled day. I am feeling the full physical effects of grief today and just as when a loved one has died - I need to hold my family. I am holding so many in my faith family close today (as well as my children and grandchildren). No one may be present with me in this physical space - but I know you are there and that matters.
My sister sent this passage from Rebecca Solnit first thing this morning which was reassuring and helped direct my disoriented dissapointment. I hope that everyone who reads it feels a bit of reassurance:
"They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving. You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in. Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love.
The Wobblies used to say don't mourn, organize, but you can do both at once and you don't have to organize right away in this moment of furious mourning. You can be heartbroken or furious or both at once; you can scream in your car or on a cliff; you can also get up tomorrow and water the flowerpots and call someone who's upset and check your equipment for going onward.
A lot of us are going to come under direct attack, and a lot of us are going to resist by building solidarity and sanctuary. Gather up your resources, the metaphysical ones that are heart and soul and care, as well as the practical ones.
People kept the faith in the dictatorships of South America in the 1970s and 1980s, in the East Bloc countries and the USSR, women are protesting right now in Iran and people there are writing poetry. There is no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it's sunny or raining. Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed."
Today I’ve felt mostly numbness and sadness. I just read David Gushee’s Substack post, and am now even more sad. Thank you, Diana, for being a voice for hope.
A dear friend forwarded me this article, and I am thankful for the uplifting words…..where it is feeling very dark, sad, and confusing right now, I have to have faith that everything will be ok. It is time now to focus on what matters most….our family, our friends, and our health🙏🏻❤️
I’m so grateful for all of this. But especially for the knowledge that there are that many of us here, in this strange digital sanctuary, together. We created this kind of community we’d never dreamed possible a few years ago, right? Surely that’s worth something.
Diana
I was grateful to read your email here in the UK. I couldn't find words to express my feelings. As others have said, I do believe that 'all shall be well' but we face extremely difficult times.
Please find below a Prayer for America by Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields the Church on the edge of Trafalgar Square, London.
Mysterious God, your ways are sometimes hard to fathom and your purposes amid the turmoil of life are sometimes hard to perceive. Bless America. Be close today to those who behold the election result with dismay. Be with migrants who fear hostility and deportation. Uphold women who anticipate disrespect and feel their wellbeing in jeopardy. Give hope to the people of Ukraine who imagine a perilous future. Have mercy on the Palestinian people who wonder if their faint hope of a future has been extinguished. Sustain all throughout your world who sense the peril of the planet and its ecosystem. Make each one of us quicker to understand than to condemn, eager to work together even with those with whom we profoundly disagree, and hopeful despite despair. As you have so many times before, surprise us with what your Holy Spirit can do in the face of setback and bewilderment; and draw us to that place of surprise, that we may in some small way be part of it. In Christ your risen Son our Lord. Amen.
I feel such a deep loss- respect/trust for those l thought would support Kamala’s agenda . I am afraid of what DT will unleash and Congress can’t or won’t halt it! I know l need to follow the teachings of Jesus right but l need help- God in your mercy.
I have so much to say, but I do not have the words! I wish I could say something positive and uplifting but all I can do right now as you suggest is breathe and take it slow. Thank you, Diana so very much for these beautiful words, your compassion, and encouragement!
come holy spirit
i try to turn
again toward love
to know the will
of god above
away from fear
where i can pray
where i can find
a better way
to listen for
the still small voice
that helps me make
a better choice
for how to live
as god intends
for neighbors all
to become friends
alice mohor
The work now as always is to heal the world. We need more heart, less judgement.
Thank you for your words. Yes, I chose to journal, pray and nap today. Yes, I am fearful and pray for better days ahead!
This is what I posted on my FB page:
I'm sad and afraid as I look forward today, though not as surprised as I was 8 years ago. I fear for our economy, our free press, our judicial system. I hold in my heart the young women who will continue to die due to lack of reproductive health care, my gay and trans friends, and especially the immigrant community, who have been subject to such vile rhetoric during the campaign.
As I did in 2016, I return to my baptismal promises, particularly these two lines:
Celebrant: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People: I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant: Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People: I will, with God’s help
Someone wrote in the New York Times that they went to sleep last night in America and woke up this morning in 1939 Germany. I grieve but I also fear. I would not be surprised if Substack is found to be a criminal forum and all of its contributors charged with being subversives. This time is different from previous political divides.
I will hold and share hope, tenacity, integrity, compassion, and continue to trust in the greater good. Because that is who I am.
Thank you for your writing today. Many of us don't feel up to doing anything. And thank you for the stunning photo; staring at it helps today so much.
Oh Diana. Thank you for all you are doing to reach out and give soul nurturing sustenance on this dread filled day. I am feeling the full physical effects of grief today and just as when a loved one has died - I need to hold my family. I am holding so many in my faith family close today (as well as my children and grandchildren). No one may be present with me in this physical space - but I know you are there and that matters.
And I am grateful for you. I need to figure out what I should do next! I’m know The Cottage will help me do so!