Your poem struck a chord for me. The other day I was telling Ruth that I'm in the process of readjusting my view of America. Throughout my life I viewed America as a working democracy, albeit with many problems. Some presidents I disliked; some I respected. But in either case, there was a peaceful transfer of power. Those days I believe have passed. The current regime will use any means (illegal, cheating, violence) to stay in power. I'm not saying true democracy will not return. I believe it will. But for now, a different political paradigm, an authoritarian one, is replacing it. So I'm going through a process of recalibration, which involves a lot of grieving. But in the midst of the grief, I'm sensing a renewed vigor to fight for truth, for justice. A call to battle (nonviolent of course). Although the paradigm has shifted, the struggle remains the same. The struggle for a more loving world.
Last night I tried to watch Rachel Maddow (whom I appreciate so much). She was noting the people Trump is already choosing for his administration & his call to Senate leaders to go into recess so he can make recess appointments which won't need to be confirmed... And I just couldn't do it. I think I'm still picking myself up off the floor & regaining my breath after taking a gut punch. I'm usually a "just do something" kind of person, & usually doing something, even something small, helps me get moving forward again. I'm just not there yet. So, I think that recalibrating for me right now is allowing myself not to do something. Focus on rest & recovery. Breathe. Play quiet music. Notice the pink in the clouds at sunset. Wonder if the leaves here (Memphis) are ever going to turn color...
Like many in this 'gathering of spirits' I am trying to stay positive while still grieving for our country and for those who could not see through clearly to the cruelty, division and danger they were voting for. I have been intentionally looking for beauty in my daily life, and making a special effort show kindness and respect for others, even those I know voted a different way, I had the opportunity to travel two days after the election to guide a retreat. I was heartened by the small decencies I witnessed and experienced among the people I encountered. The experience helped me devise strategies for dealing with my post-election depression. I shared those strategies in a post on Medium.com, and share them here in the hope they will prove uplifting for you, Carrie, and the members of our community. Thank you to all! Here is the link to the post:
I was on the way to an interview in an unfamiliar city. I plugged in the GPS. I had the printed email with directions at my side. I neared an exit. GPS said exit but the exit name didn't match the info in the email. I kept going. "Recalculating." The same thing happened at the next exit and the next. "Recalculating." That voice of God kept telling me where to go and found a new way when I took things into my own hands. "Recalculating." Finally, I was directed onto the interstate...going towards home! At the next exit, I turned back. Recalculating. Exit here, turn left, turn left, turn left. You have arrivee. I was late. I was hired.
The poem brought up two things for me: one that you'd told me about your conversations with Jane a long time ago. Still funny, and excellent use of it in the poem.
The second thing: I was reminded of a conversation between two characters in a book of Amish fiction I read some years ago, don't recall the context or the book. One character said to the other: "God did not make us to be afraid of the future. Every step is a step into the unknown." Which of course is an idea that can be taken in many ways...
Might help to think about helping others. Please thank veterans today for risking lives to protect and defend our entire Constitution. Veterans are more likely to serve our communities again as first responders, as well as volunteer to rescue and help people in a disaster.
As a blessed Gulf I era veteran who experienced the miracle of nobody seriously injured or killed by a live 500lb bomb exploding onboard our ship during a training accident, a little thanks is always greatly appreciated. Particularly thank Korean and Vietnam Vets who risked all, yet were blamed for poor political decisions, and were not properly welcomed home.
Your local town may have a ceremony to honor veteran's service, and a bigger crowd would be nice. You may even hear some amazing and unforgettable stories about time in the service.
At this very moment, I am recalculating and recalibrating my practice of assuming what vote some people in my life made. I love them or don't love them regardless. How do I teach myself not to assume how they voted. The assumption can cause divide where there is no need to be divided. How do I keep from assigning blame and responsibility when I don't even know the facts. I just assume. That cannot be good for me, them, or the relationship we share. So,I am starting the journey to recalculate and recalibrate.
Spending time active with with four different political parties broadened views and became independent. Thanks to Quakers, realized Jesus had far better solutions than any of our political parties. Full equality and consensus to share executive power would deter any type of hierarchy, yet better represent us all.
I am glad that so many of you are recalibrating. I just don't know if I can do that yet. One of my friends sent a cartoon showing a couple of asteroids heading to earth. One dinosaur says to the other, 'maybe it won't be that bad.' I hope that I am catastrophizing, but I think that it is going to be that bad. I am entering the last stretches of my time on this planet, but am so worried about our children and grandchildren, friends, and their children and grandchildren -- especially those who are already the targets of hatred.
Thank you, Carrie. I like the idea of what I have been doing this week as recalibrating and recalculating. Initially I just felt lost, but, as your metaphor of highway travel suggests, we find another way--maybe very different from what we planned or hoped, but still with the same endpoint in mind.
This past year our congregation was invited to write an 11th commandment and bring it to worship. The beauty of the commandment experiment was that it was a two-part process: we each had scaled our own personal mountaintops, but we had to bring the stone tablets back down to the circle of our congregation, and we held them, debated them, refined them over doughnuts and coffee and ultimately owned them all together. This is the work of nations and congregations and families; you can’t be a moral person by yourself. We calibrate in community.
“What would your 11th commandment be?” I asked someone here last week. Brilliantly he replied, “My 11th command would tell people to read the first 10 again.”
In our congregation - Have no other God’s - we agreed is about worshipping only those things which are worthy, so maybe not money, for sure not clocks or even family. Remember the Sabbath is all about balance and rest and opening ourselves to the awe that comes when we delight in life.
One of my favorite commandments someone wrote was: Stand where we can see you, which I think meant live an open life so that you can be known and loved, challenged and held. Stand where we can see you, so you won’t imagine that you don’t need others, won’t forget that they need you.
Love the poem. It is definitely going to take recalculating and recalibrating for me. I feel like I have lost faith in parts of the USA and I have got to take time and decide how to get it back. The line that spoke to me was “Sometimes you need to pull over the car and get out of the mindless stream of traffic.” I have felt like I need to be quiet and get away from "the mindless stream of traffic." I think it is so important for our musicians, artists, and poets help give us a voice. Thank you Carrie for giving me voice today.
Primal scream!
Enjoy the ride.
Do what you can...
Your poem struck a chord for me. The other day I was telling Ruth that I'm in the process of readjusting my view of America. Throughout my life I viewed America as a working democracy, albeit with many problems. Some presidents I disliked; some I respected. But in either case, there was a peaceful transfer of power. Those days I believe have passed. The current regime will use any means (illegal, cheating, violence) to stay in power. I'm not saying true democracy will not return. I believe it will. But for now, a different political paradigm, an authoritarian one, is replacing it. So I'm going through a process of recalibration, which involves a lot of grieving. But in the midst of the grief, I'm sensing a renewed vigor to fight for truth, for justice. A call to battle (nonviolent of course). Although the paradigm has shifted, the struggle remains the same. The struggle for a more loving world.
PS... Turns out the "long way up" is longer than I thought it would be. So, it does require recalibrating.
Last night I tried to watch Rachel Maddow (whom I appreciate so much). She was noting the people Trump is already choosing for his administration & his call to Senate leaders to go into recess so he can make recess appointments which won't need to be confirmed... And I just couldn't do it. I think I'm still picking myself up off the floor & regaining my breath after taking a gut punch. I'm usually a "just do something" kind of person, & usually doing something, even something small, helps me get moving forward again. I'm just not there yet. So, I think that recalibrating for me right now is allowing myself not to do something. Focus on rest & recovery. Breathe. Play quiet music. Notice the pink in the clouds at sunset. Wonder if the leaves here (Memphis) are ever going to turn color...
Like many in this 'gathering of spirits' I am trying to stay positive while still grieving for our country and for those who could not see through clearly to the cruelty, division and danger they were voting for. I have been intentionally looking for beauty in my daily life, and making a special effort show kindness and respect for others, even those I know voted a different way, I had the opportunity to travel two days after the election to guide a retreat. I was heartened by the small decencies I witnessed and experienced among the people I encountered. The experience helped me devise strategies for dealing with my post-election depression. I shared those strategies in a post on Medium.com, and share them here in the hope they will prove uplifting for you, Carrie, and the members of our community. Thank you to all! Here is the link to the post:
https://judithvalente.medium.com/overcoming-post-election-despair-d753d290c2b3
I was on the way to an interview in an unfamiliar city. I plugged in the GPS. I had the printed email with directions at my side. I neared an exit. GPS said exit but the exit name didn't match the info in the email. I kept going. "Recalculating." The same thing happened at the next exit and the next. "Recalculating." That voice of God kept telling me where to go and found a new way when I took things into my own hands. "Recalculating." Finally, I was directed onto the interstate...going towards home! At the next exit, I turned back. Recalculating. Exit here, turn left, turn left, turn left. You have arrivee. I was late. I was hired.
The poem brought up two things for me: one that you'd told me about your conversations with Jane a long time ago. Still funny, and excellent use of it in the poem.
The second thing: I was reminded of a conversation between two characters in a book of Amish fiction I read some years ago, don't recall the context or the book. One character said to the other: "God did not make us to be afraid of the future. Every step is a step into the unknown." Which of course is an idea that can be taken in many ways...
Might help to think about helping others. Please thank veterans today for risking lives to protect and defend our entire Constitution. Veterans are more likely to serve our communities again as first responders, as well as volunteer to rescue and help people in a disaster.
As a blessed Gulf I era veteran who experienced the miracle of nobody seriously injured or killed by a live 500lb bomb exploding onboard our ship during a training accident, a little thanks is always greatly appreciated. Particularly thank Korean and Vietnam Vets who risked all, yet were blamed for poor political decisions, and were not properly welcomed home.
Your local town may have a ceremony to honor veteran's service, and a bigger crowd would be nice. You may even hear some amazing and unforgettable stories about time in the service.
This poem is just another way to deal with what happened in the election this past week. Thank you for helping.
At this very moment, I am recalculating and recalibrating my practice of assuming what vote some people in my life made. I love them or don't love them regardless. How do I teach myself not to assume how they voted. The assumption can cause divide where there is no need to be divided. How do I keep from assigning blame and responsibility when I don't even know the facts. I just assume. That cannot be good for me, them, or the relationship we share. So,I am starting the journey to recalculate and recalibrate.
Spending time active with with four different political parties broadened views and became independent. Thanks to Quakers, realized Jesus had far better solutions than any of our political parties. Full equality and consensus to share executive power would deter any type of hierarchy, yet better represent us all.
Awwww. Brought back wonderful comforting memories of my early GPS
Yes yes. I’m recalculating. Thank you.
I am glad that so many of you are recalibrating. I just don't know if I can do that yet. One of my friends sent a cartoon showing a couple of asteroids heading to earth. One dinosaur says to the other, 'maybe it won't be that bad.' I hope that I am catastrophizing, but I think that it is going to be that bad. I am entering the last stretches of my time on this planet, but am so worried about our children and grandchildren, friends, and their children and grandchildren -- especially those who are already the targets of hatred.
Thank you, Carrie. I like the idea of what I have been doing this week as recalibrating and recalculating. Initially I just felt lost, but, as your metaphor of highway travel suggests, we find another way--maybe very different from what we planned or hoped, but still with the same endpoint in mind.
Love the word "calibrate."
This past year our congregation was invited to write an 11th commandment and bring it to worship. The beauty of the commandment experiment was that it was a two-part process: we each had scaled our own personal mountaintops, but we had to bring the stone tablets back down to the circle of our congregation, and we held them, debated them, refined them over doughnuts and coffee and ultimately owned them all together. This is the work of nations and congregations and families; you can’t be a moral person by yourself. We calibrate in community.
We calibrate in community.
Thou shall not torture? Thou shall not exclude? Thou shall not command? What rule did your community endorse?
“What would your 11th commandment be?” I asked someone here last week. Brilliantly he replied, “My 11th command would tell people to read the first 10 again.”
In our congregation - Have no other God’s - we agreed is about worshipping only those things which are worthy, so maybe not money, for sure not clocks or even family. Remember the Sabbath is all about balance and rest and opening ourselves to the awe that comes when we delight in life.
One of my favorite commandments someone wrote was: Stand where we can see you, which I think meant live an open life so that you can be known and loved, challenged and held. Stand where we can see you, so you won’t imagine that you don’t need others, won’t forget that they need you.
Love the poem. It is definitely going to take recalculating and recalibrating for me. I feel like I have lost faith in parts of the USA and I have got to take time and decide how to get it back. The line that spoke to me was “Sometimes you need to pull over the car and get out of the mindless stream of traffic.” I have felt like I need to be quiet and get away from "the mindless stream of traffic." I think it is so important for our musicians, artists, and poets help give us a voice. Thank you Carrie for giving me voice today.
Thanks so much,love this!