How Do We Keep Moving Toward Each Other?

Well, here we are...the day after.

As I’m writing this, it’s the day after the 2024 Election Day. A victor has been declared for the highest seat in our land. And…

Many are grieving.

Many are fearful.

Many are anxious.

Understandably so. There are also many who are celebrating, whose lives won't feel disrupted at all, really. These others who would look at the “rest” of the country left in lament and immediately dismiss them as overreacting, faithless, or "too concerned" by our government.

My plea to my fellow countryfolk today - specifically those of you who do not find yourselves in deep lament - is to genuinely, vulnerably, wholeheartedly take some slow time with the Spirit to consider why others might be feeling differently than you right about now.

Step into the shoes of the people who voted, or maybe even hoped, differently than you; and instead of dismissing their grief as faithless overreaction, take a moment and imagine…

• Ask yourself why immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers - all legally here - might have fear of what a Trump-led administration could mean for them and their families.

  • For example, Trump referring to human beings fleeing violence as “illegal invaders” who need to be sent back to "where you came from…" (I could say more, but that should be enough to get you started.)

• Ask yourself why the queer community might have fear of what Trump policies could mean for their well-being in healthcare, much less legally, socially, and with regards to personal safety.

  • For example, a Trans-person being concerned about receiving equitable, non-discriminatory healthcare.

  • As another example, consider all the forces and power dynamics at play that contribute to anyone in a non-cishet relationship being concerned for their physical well-being, much less civil rights.

• Ask yourself why the BIPOC community might feel on edge.

  • For example, the public KKK demonstrations that have already been happening in pockets of our country that are oft-aligned with Trump support feeling emboldened to do even more…

  • As another example, the “few bad apples” in the police feeling supported by the Commander-in-Chief to make even more discriminatory, racist decisions because of ill-formed stereotypes of who to stop, who to arrest (for no cause other than walking while being Black), and when to pull the trigger or apply pressure.

  • I waited just a couple days to post this, and already there's a concrete, real world example: Anonymous harassers sending texts to young, Black college students and folks across this country spewing racist, vile hatred. Emboldened by...

• Ask yourself why people are concerned for the genocide of the Gaza strip and Palestinians through Trump’s carte blanche support of Israel’s indiscriminate force.

  • For example, sure. Go back to the “start” of Israel’s indiscriminate response with Hamas attacking Israel and capturing hostages. Now, carry on…look into the bombing Israel has carried out in Palestine. Look into the “places of refuge” they’ve told many Gazans to flee to - and how quickly those same places were then followed up with more institutionalized murder. Look into what it means to not support Hamas while also condemning Israel’s murder of the population of Gaza on the world stage, most of which is under the age of 15. Ask yourself why people in the States might care about such global goings on.

Not all of us really expected any other outcome, to be honest. My hope is certainly not in this country’s government, or governing administration. However, I do recognize that it is my duty and honor to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God in such a way that makes straight paths that are crooked and that strengthens communities, people, and neighbors who are weak. Regardless of who is in office - yet not separate from it.

Our country electing a criminally tried (on multiple accounts), serial misogynist, fear-mongering racist isn't exactly great for me or my community. But that's just my business…

He's also a serial capitalist who's proven time and time again to do what's in the best interest of his and his supporters' wealth and assets, so who knows. Maybe some of that will trickle down, and the economy will turn up. Who knows. Maybe the housing crisis will be addressed, and the systemic problems that lead to mass homelessness could even have a...who am I kidding.

“If you always vote for the lesser of two evils, you will always have evil, and you will always have less.” - Ralph Nader

And in our case, we've now wound up with the louder of two evils.

I dream of a better world. One built on the understanding that individual flourishing is inherently dependent on the liberation of all. One that understands that mutuality is not just a nice idea, but a Kingdom-soaked idea baked into the gospel.

If one is fearful for their life while walking down the street, then we are not yet free.

If our children are being murdered and exploited, then we are not yet free.

If our systems still favor the established, the resourced, the colonizers, then we are not yet free.

Mutuality and interdependence and the gospel all understand this:

"The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free." - Maya Angelou (...and Dr. King and Emma Lazarus)

The Kingdom the Lord presented to us that we get to participate in ushering onto Earth as it is in heaven is not one of individual kingdoms or even comfort. It is one built on communal flourishing, which will not come easily. And goes well beyond acts of charity.

It will look like the lowering of yourself for the benefit and honor of your neighbor; a world where discomfort (actual discomfort, not just the idea of it) and hard conversations are common; a world with an arc that bends toward justice and genuine curiosity for learning our neighbors' worlds; a world with an eye for the oppressed, the marginalized, the orphan, the widow, the poor among us.

I pray that we (all of we) can move toward each other and scrape, inch, and crawl our way toward co-creating a world that looses shackles and ushers in true, communal liberty the world over. Including in this country.

Selah.