A Glimmer of Hope

I need a tiny glimmer of hope. Just a little one.

I need a day without someone being shot by an "officer of the law." I need to know that a family is given sanctuary instead of deportation. I need to know that kids ate lunch (and breakfast and dinner and a couple snacks). I need to know that there are still places where people feel at peace – where they feel safe.

I need my student loans to be forgiven and my credit card debt to be paid off. I need jeans that fit and the basement to be organized. If we're dreaming big, I need a vacation and probably a new roof – and the car makes a clunking sound sometimes that gives me anxiety. I need my neighbors to have healthcare, sustainable housing, and economic equity. I need more dinners with friends and wooded walks on drizzly days.

But, I need all of this for everyone.

Everyone should have pants that fit and reflect their individual style. Everyone should have economic security and food stability. Everyone should have rest and community, and everyone has those few “I really need to fix that” things. Everyone should have personal, physical, and emotional safety. Period.

I need everyone to care about each other.

We don’t have to always do heroic acts or even acts of kindness, but we have to care about each other. On a basic and fundamental level.

It’s not radical to care if someone lives or dies.

DOCTOR: Can I — can I go check a pulse?

ICE AGENT 1: No! Back up! Now!

DOCTOR: I’m a physician!

ICE AGENT 1: I don’t care!

I don’t care if you’re a physician, I don’t care if she has a pulse, I don’t care if she was a threat, I don’t care if she lives or dies.

In 1936 Carl Jung wrote of Berlin, “A hurricane has broken loose in Germany while we all still believe it’s fine weather.” When we are conditioned to stop caring about each other cruelty becomes honesty, indifference feels like strength, and hatred is labeled patriotism. We’re told not to believe what we see, we’re told not to trust our instincts, our gut feeling.

“They’re illegal.”

“It’s to stop the drugs.”

“She was asking for it.”

"You will indeed listen but never understand and you will indeed look but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull,     and their ears are hard of hearing,         and they have shut their eyes,         so that they might not look with their eyes,     and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn"

Jesus speaking to the Disciples about the prophecy of Isaiah; the people deliberately refused to hear the voice of God. The truth was right there. They had eyes and ears, just as we do, but they refused to see and hear, they refused to care. They refused to see the hurricane brewing outside their window.

I need a tiny glimmer of hope.

All the other things too, but I need us to see, hear, and care about each other.

May it be so.

 🖤