Listen to This
The Great Idea here is simply that you listen to Heather Cox Richardson’s Sunday Chat, in which she ‘tries to provide a little inspiration…’ and/or read Sociologist Jennifer Walter’s spot-on summation, and overview of ‘overwhelm’, ‘shock doctrine’, and ‘chaos and crisis’. They are distinct but parallel gifts for those feeling overwhelmed and both deserve our attention.
Heather Cox Richardson’s 34-minute Facebook video can be found here.
Jennifer Walter’s thread can be found here.
Both are well worth your time. They are Good News.
Both encourage us to not give power to those who are trying to grab it through fear and overwhelm. We do not need to hear or know everything that is said by people who are intentionally sowing chaos, overwhelm, and terror. Focus on what is actually happening.
They inspire us with concrete ways to claim our power as citizens of this country – individually and communally – by reshaping local, regional, and statewide narratives by sharing truth and reality. Name what is actually happening!
They emphasize, (Richardson, repeatedly), the need to take action locally, and in community. Rather than react to every single whim and worry being created by the power hungry, do what is good and right to do in your local and regional context. Choose. Focus.
They also join Cole Arthur Riley (see here) in finding trusted voices to help vet and curate what you are viewing, reading, and hearing: don’t pay attention to everything and be sure what you are receiving is the truth. Walter suggestions using ‘aggregators and experts’, ‘trusted analysts who do the heavy lifting of synthesis’.
All of this is the work of the church. We are called to act with justice. We are designed for this. (See Rev. Traci Blackmon, summarized by Diana Butler Bass here). This is the next phase of the movement Jesus began: speaking truth to power/Empire while doing the good we are able to do in the place(s) we are able to do it. In this, we claim our agency.
Richardson invites us to follow our passions in pursuit of goodness, mercy, and justice – especially on behalf of folx whose voice and power is most under attack, right now. And to do so collectively – working with others who are already and/or also engaged in the same issues – so that our resources of time, energy, compassion, and commitment can have the greatest impact and not be squandered or scattered by individual (or solo congregational) efforts.
We do this as the Body: no one individual can do it all; and no one congregation reveals the entire body. We will each have our areas of deepest concern.
Richardson concludes with a call to joy: do not fail to find moments of levity and humor, experience wonder and awe, share joy and laughter with others. This, too, is the work of the church!
- Watch the full 34-minute Facebook video here.
- Learn about the Organization of American States here.
- Read the Time article, The Top 1% of Americans Have Taken $50 Trillion from the Bottom 90% – And That’s Made the U.S. Less Secure, here.
- Read an interview with Michael Fanone here. Support his gofundme here.
The Ministry Lab is creating The Hub to support congregations focusing on their particular areas of need and interest. Through The Hub, each of us can engage in our own areas of interest and need while knowing that others are doing good work in other areas. We hope this will help everyone feel more meaningfully engaged and less overwhelmed. The Hub should be up and running by February 10, 2025. Visit our homepage for the link.
We are in this together!
