Finally read this poem, thoughts,and yes it will be a hard road for everyone and sadly if the other side does not recognize that if we are divided,they also for the most part it seems will be shunned when their usefulness to the "powerful" will be forgotten.In my opinion oligarchy is the direction I see ahead.So yes we ALL should pay cloae attention.☮️🐧
Thank you for this post and the many comments shared by others in this community. I identify with this roller coaster journey and the feelings of hurt and anger and despair often followed by a better day and then back to trying to hold on to hope. The last couple days have been hard ones. As someone who has family and friends are transgender or gay, this move in Congress to ban transgender women from women’s bathrooms in the Capitol and maybe all federal buildings hits me hard. How can there be such meanness and hatred toward others? Does it come from fear? I am struggling today, but I know I am in the boat and will keep on rowing when I can. I know that hope is there even when I can’t feel it. I will not give up.
I read that in order to see what's in the dark, we have to go outside and let our eyes adjust first. Then the edges that catch light becomes visible. I try to think of all those who are going to be behind the scenes of the coming changes, shining the light of reason in the darkness with creative solutions.
I keep trying to envision almost like a mix between an Olympic torch being carried by many, blurred into an image of a field of fireflies, many syncing up, but also alternating, sharing times to hold the light.
At the first IFS training module in Sept, I decided at the last minute to bring my ukulele on the plane. I was so glad I did, because I could share music. My uncle, in the peace corps and then as a priest in mostly Southeast Asia (like Myanmar, where he was most recently), through the social justice order of Maryknoll, used to say that music is the universal language. His violin traveled with him wherever he went.
I learned that my IFS training in January will include a brief timeframe to share about our experience with the months-long intensive training. It reminded me of the song I modified for my Neurofeedback training in 2019, set to the tune of "This land is your land." I'm toying with the idea of working with the song "Lean in Toward the Light," with the beautiful call/response refrain line.... (Carrie, I hope that would be ok, non-commercially, of course...?) I love playing with words and lyrics, and I feel like the music of connectedness and light dovetails so well with IFS. In these days of deepest loss, we so desperately need the light of calm, confident, courageous, clear, creative, curious, compassionate, and connected Self-Energy... now, more than ever.
But I digress... For now, I'm going to keep watching the flicker of these metaphorical fireflies, one calling and the next responding, bearing witness to the glimmering moments of awe.
Today, November 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. We went to a vigil where the names of trans people who died this year were read. People spoke about their sadness, but mostly about their fear. They were so grateful that our UU Fellowship welcomed them to our building, but our members were actually so grateful that they had chosen our congregation, and we had the opportunity to assure them that they were always welcome and safe with us.
It felt so good to be "part of the solution" in a sense. It's going to take a lot of work over many years. But even in Nazi Germany there were families sheltering the Jewish people. And when we read about them they are the heroes of the war.
Thanks for providing the boat and the oars. Your caring and sharing give hope that there might be enough of us with the same values to come together and row with combined effort to make headway in these very turbulent seas. You are a blessing to us all.
The most powerful and proven effective way to change people's hearts is to inspire disciples of love and forgiveness. Understanding the importance of seeing everyone as fully equal, like Jesus, would prevent abuses of power. How else would sexism, racism, mentalism, disabledism, and every other form of hierarchyism ever be successfully changed, unless brutally destructive war and murder are ok?
Do we actually see our Trump supporting neighbors as equal humans we need to listen to if we want to be heard? Or simply inferior humans (as if we're perfect) to be dismissed, rejected, demonized, penalized, and crushed? Individual love and forgiveness is the only sustainable solution to get to social justice and peace. Do you believe people can shift priorities and change over a lifetime? Could you ever love and forgive all your neighbors like MLK?
You write "The hard as stone truth is that people I know and love tossed other people I know and love under the bus for the price of eggs or because it was easier to believe bald faced lies then vote for a woman or person of color for a position of power. This is who we are as a country in this moment…and honestly, I’m still wrestling with where to place that knowledge. " I liked your words about appeasement, too, Carrie. Grief is hard work whatever the circumstance, and this...among many other things, I am finding it exhausting. Wishing you safe travels on your upcoming tour dates, and putting my hand or your shoulder from a distance, my friend.
Thank you Kerry. I’m strong and resilient….oh my goodness, I’m a life long folk singer :-). More than anything today I just want to acknowledge and honor that people can have bad days and not be bad people. And, I guess that we need one another to help row the boat toward the better shore. . . I still believe it the shore we are rowing toward and I’ll be pulling the oars as I always have. Thanks for your kind wishes for travel and holding space in these times. That means a lot my friend.
I understand your confusion, sadness, and anger. It is difficult to know how to deal with people who just voted for a dictator. Of course, I wouldn't agree with them to placate them. But then, if I disagree it could easily set off a hate-filled argument. Sometimes I think silence can be effective. I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes silence can condone oppression and violence. People need to speak up. But during a conversation either in person or through social media, a silent response can be effect, a silence that reflects the hate and lies back to the person spewing them. I think many of these people need a mirror that reflects back accurately what they've become.
Every President issuing executive orders is a dictator, and every modern President does it. Biden just unilaterally authorized letting Ukraine use long-range missiles to attack Russia, increasing risk of WW3 and nuclear holocaust. Seek to understand is lesson #1 in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People...probably best book ever fully read.
If it's any consolation, modern political history repeatedly shows Democrats will retake the House and the Senate margin will shrink in two years because Republicans will overreach. Not to mention Republicans in Congress cannot get much done in two years beyond extending and reforming tax cuts, which will be used for social reforms. The question is whether Republicans will use taxes to actually help Main St working class? Removing and replacing Obamacare or immigration reform have already repeatedly failed and would likely fail again, wasting a lot of time.
Thank you for this reflection. The balance of row and rest, rest and pull speaks to the exhaustion I feel some days just after seeing the latest news headlines. I am SO looking forward to your visit to Cincinnati, Carrie❤️
Me too…I always love visiting my OH neighbors. Yes…it feel exhausting at times. But I guess the meaning of the post is that we are not in the boat alone. We can rest and pull, pull and rest. It is a beautiful shore we are endeavoring to reach. I believe in that good shore. But we do the work together…and maybe even more so in challenging times.
Finally read this poem, thoughts,and yes it will be a hard road for everyone and sadly if the other side does not recognize that if we are divided,they also for the most part it seems will be shunned when their usefulness to the "powerful" will be forgotten.In my opinion oligarchy is the direction I see ahead.So yes we ALL should pay cloae attention.☮️🐧
Beautiful writing 💞
Thank you for this post and the many comments shared by others in this community. I identify with this roller coaster journey and the feelings of hurt and anger and despair often followed by a better day and then back to trying to hold on to hope. The last couple days have been hard ones. As someone who has family and friends are transgender or gay, this move in Congress to ban transgender women from women’s bathrooms in the Capitol and maybe all federal buildings hits me hard. How can there be such meanness and hatred toward others? Does it come from fear? I am struggling today, but I know I am in the boat and will keep on rowing when I can. I know that hope is there even when I can’t feel it. I will not give up.
I read that in order to see what's in the dark, we have to go outside and let our eyes adjust first. Then the edges that catch light becomes visible. I try to think of all those who are going to be behind the scenes of the coming changes, shining the light of reason in the darkness with creative solutions.
I keep trying to envision almost like a mix between an Olympic torch being carried by many, blurred into an image of a field of fireflies, many syncing up, but also alternating, sharing times to hold the light.
At the first IFS training module in Sept, I decided at the last minute to bring my ukulele on the plane. I was so glad I did, because I could share music. My uncle, in the peace corps and then as a priest in mostly Southeast Asia (like Myanmar, where he was most recently), through the social justice order of Maryknoll, used to say that music is the universal language. His violin traveled with him wherever he went.
I learned that my IFS training in January will include a brief timeframe to share about our experience with the months-long intensive training. It reminded me of the song I modified for my Neurofeedback training in 2019, set to the tune of "This land is your land." I'm toying with the idea of working with the song "Lean in Toward the Light," with the beautiful call/response refrain line.... (Carrie, I hope that would be ok, non-commercially, of course...?) I love playing with words and lyrics, and I feel like the music of connectedness and light dovetails so well with IFS. In these days of deepest loss, we so desperately need the light of calm, confident, courageous, clear, creative, curious, compassionate, and connected Self-Energy... now, more than ever.
But I digress... For now, I'm going to keep watching the flicker of these metaphorical fireflies, one calling and the next responding, bearing witness to the glimmering moments of awe.
Thank you.
Today, November 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. We went to a vigil where the names of trans people who died this year were read. People spoke about their sadness, but mostly about their fear. They were so grateful that our UU Fellowship welcomed them to our building, but our members were actually so grateful that they had chosen our congregation, and we had the opportunity to assure them that they were always welcome and safe with us.
It felt so good to be "part of the solution" in a sense. It's going to take a lot of work over many years. But even in Nazi Germany there were families sheltering the Jewish people. And when we read about them they are the heroes of the war.
This is what I'm going to do to fight the regime.
And I'm going to do it with joy.
Thank You!
Absolutely beautiful post…. We are in and headed for dark times, Love will carry me and this community helps. ❤️🙏❤️
Carrie,
Thanks for providing the boat and the oars. Your caring and sharing give hope that there might be enough of us with the same values to come together and row with combined effort to make headway in these very turbulent seas. You are a blessing to us all.
Numerous styles of "The Emperor Has No Clothes " tee shirts are available.
The most powerful and proven effective way to change people's hearts is to inspire disciples of love and forgiveness. Understanding the importance of seeing everyone as fully equal, like Jesus, would prevent abuses of power. How else would sexism, racism, mentalism, disabledism, and every other form of hierarchyism ever be successfully changed, unless brutally destructive war and murder are ok?
Do we actually see our Trump supporting neighbors as equal humans we need to listen to if we want to be heard? Or simply inferior humans (as if we're perfect) to be dismissed, rejected, demonized, penalized, and crushed? Individual love and forgiveness is the only sustainable solution to get to social justice and peace. Do you believe people can shift priorities and change over a lifetime? Could you ever love and forgive all your neighbors like MLK?
Such a generous, beautiful and wise gift to us! Thanks be to thee.
Rosemerry sent this poem out after Election Day.
Inviting Spaciousness
Today when the heart is a small, tight knot,
I do not try to untangle it. I don’t tug on the strings
in a desperate attempt to unravel it.
I don’t even wonder at how it got so snarled.
Instead, I imagine cradling it, cupping it
with my hands like something precious,
something wounded, a bird with a broken wing.
I cradle my heart like the frightened thing it is.
I imagine all the other frightened hearts
and imagine them all being held in love.
And I breathe. I breathe and feel
how the breathing invites a spaciousness.
I breathe and let myself be moved by the breathing
as I open and soften. Open and soften.
And nothing changes. And everything changes.
The heart, still a knot, remembers
it knows how to love. It knows it is not alone.
—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
You write "The hard as stone truth is that people I know and love tossed other people I know and love under the bus for the price of eggs or because it was easier to believe bald faced lies then vote for a woman or person of color for a position of power. This is who we are as a country in this moment…and honestly, I’m still wrestling with where to place that knowledge. " I liked your words about appeasement, too, Carrie. Grief is hard work whatever the circumstance, and this...among many other things, I am finding it exhausting. Wishing you safe travels on your upcoming tour dates, and putting my hand or your shoulder from a distance, my friend.
Thank you Kerry. I’m strong and resilient….oh my goodness, I’m a life long folk singer :-). More than anything today I just want to acknowledge and honor that people can have bad days and not be bad people. And, I guess that we need one another to help row the boat toward the better shore. . . I still believe it the shore we are rowing toward and I’ll be pulling the oars as I always have. Thanks for your kind wishes for travel and holding space in these times. That means a lot my friend.
I understand your confusion, sadness, and anger. It is difficult to know how to deal with people who just voted for a dictator. Of course, I wouldn't agree with them to placate them. But then, if I disagree it could easily set off a hate-filled argument. Sometimes I think silence can be effective. I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes silence can condone oppression and violence. People need to speak up. But during a conversation either in person or through social media, a silent response can be effect, a silence that reflects the hate and lies back to the person spewing them. I think many of these people need a mirror that reflects back accurately what they've become.
Every President issuing executive orders is a dictator, and every modern President does it. Biden just unilaterally authorized letting Ukraine use long-range missiles to attack Russia, increasing risk of WW3 and nuclear holocaust. Seek to understand is lesson #1 in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People...probably best book ever fully read.
If it's any consolation, modern political history repeatedly shows Democrats will retake the House and the Senate margin will shrink in two years because Republicans will overreach. Not to mention Republicans in Congress cannot get much done in two years beyond extending and reforming tax cuts, which will be used for social reforms. The question is whether Republicans will use taxes to actually help Main St working class? Removing and replacing Obamacare or immigration reform have already repeatedly failed and would likely fail again, wasting a lot of time.
“Stroke, Stroke, Stroke, Bail, Bail, Bail
Thank you for this reflection. The balance of row and rest, rest and pull speaks to the exhaustion I feel some days just after seeing the latest news headlines. I am SO looking forward to your visit to Cincinnati, Carrie❤️
Me too…I always love visiting my OH neighbors. Yes…it feel exhausting at times. But I guess the meaning of the post is that we are not in the boat alone. We can rest and pull, pull and rest. It is a beautiful shore we are endeavoring to reach. I believe in that good shore. But we do the work together…and maybe even more so in challenging times.