Earlier today, I wrote:
The far-right is completely gone; they believe the Left is preparing for war against them; they believe they're the innocent victims of racism and discrimination; they believe all the lies offered to them about climate, race, economics and foreign policy. Evangelicals, social conservatives, and the rich, all have skin in the game; they all have something to gain by the collapse of democracy. Evangelicals, theocracy; social conservatives, white supremacy; the rich, unimpeded greed.
Now is the not the time for nostrums and nosegays ... now is Jeremiah-time, a time for an honest appraisal of a nation long seduced by wealth and power, a nation full of idols crafted by religious interests as devious and duplicitous as the court-priests and prophets of Jeremiah's time, a time when the Divine grows tired of pleading with a people who turn a deaf ear to reason, and choose religions that sooth and satisfy the worst instincts of race, nation, supremacy, and greed. It was this very instinct that maddened the hometown crowd who heard Jesus preach, and, at first, thought it was terrific, but when Jesus made it clear that his people were NOT the center of God's purpose, they quickly cried out in anger and attempted to kill Jesus by hurling him off a nearby cliff.
If you dare, read Jeremiah 13-17. As one friend put it, "holy moly." And then Luke 4.16-30.
I have a hard time locating myself right now - my political nerves are edgy; my religious instincts turn to the darker themes of Scripture: Jeremiah, crucifixion, Paul’s imprisonment … the darker themes of history: the West’s embrace of white supremacy, and the failure of religion to address the various crisis of race, war, and greed.
Yes, I know that religious history gives us greatness, too … but often times the women and men of faith, prophetic faith, paid with their lives, because the establishment can’t relinquish its hold on power … and power always needs to have the powerless, and no better way to create a powerless class than with economic inequity.
I know what I believe, and I stand firm in “faith, hope, and love” … but reality doesn’t let me put on a happy face … truth be told, in the short run, it may not turn out well at all, though I hope for a Biden/Harris win, and I’ll do what I can, and bear what I must.
Is there a God?
I’m inclined to think there is.
And the moral arc of the universe does bend toward justice … but not without the 400 years of Israel’s slavery in Egypt … yes, there is resurrection, but not without a rigged trial and execution.
So, here I am … in a comfy, safe, place, with dear, dear, friends.
I hope my SS continues, with some appropriate increases, along with my pension (Hallelujah and Amen!). I love Trader Joe’s and FarmFresh delivery … I love to cook, and have folks over now and then to share our table.
'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
Till by turning, turning we come round right
