The President We Need Now

I am hopeful for what our new administration will bring. I am grateful that there is one layer of fear that has been removed from my daily life. While I have no misconceptions that the evil that stoked and carried out the insurrection on January 6th has been taken care of, at least that evil is not the one in charge of setting the tone, of having the nuclear codes, no longer the one that holds the highest office in our country. 

At the same time that I'm hopeful and relieved, I'm also quite certain that much will be left undone. Some of that due to the sheer enormity of a clean-up job the past occupant of the White House is leaving. Some of that due to where our once-again-baby-boomer president will land on certain issues. 

When the bishop who was part of my first call process left the synod abruptly, in the middle of his 2nd term (it was not an easy reelection), the next bishop who was called was a real, kind, comfortable pastor. He was not a mover and a shaker, regardless of how kind and keen-eyed he was (is). But after some upheaval, that seemed to be called for. The bishop currently in place is not someone I know well, but my sense is that he is willing and able to step into the role that requires both prophetic and pastoral, that brings words of challenge when necessary.

While I was fully behind Elizabeth Warren, and I would have loved Bernie's platform, I feel such relief to have competent people being placed in positions to which they will bring life and vision. In much the same way the "after-bishop" was able to draw good, strong people to work with him, I see Joe Biden as drawing on wonderful people. And, for many of them, I hope this is not the top of their careers. 

I hope President Biden is a 1-term president, not because I hope he doesn't succeed, but because I hope he succeeds amazingly and that part of that success is lifting up new leadership who can carry on guiding the ship that he has already begun to right. I hope that this term leads to a new, progressive, (non-baby-boomer) president. 

A year ago I wouldn't have been where I am not, but I am SO GLAD that President Biden is who was elected. That we are where we are now.

Hope in Images, Oaths, Words

Today was hope filled.

Gabriel and I watched much of the inauguration this morning, including both the Vice President and the President take their oaths of office. The mere presence of many of the people up on that stage made me tear up. That the pledge of allegiance was signed, that a baby was being a noisy baby during the president's oath taking, that Eugene Goodman, one of the heroes from the insurrection on January 6th, was on security for the vice president. The joy and soul the our VPOTUS and POTUS exuded. The well-done speech of President Joe Biden. The first woman, first black, first Indian-American Vice President. All filled me with hope.

But, it was the poet, Amanda Gorman, and her poem "The Hill We Climb" that really keeps hitting me with emotion - of relief - of hope - of resolve.

When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We've braved the belly of the beast
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always just-ice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one
And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division
Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promise to glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded
But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

Inauguration Eve

Four years ago, tomorrow's date of 1/20/2021 seemed so far away. I watched some of the Inauguration of our 45th President and knew that it was not a great day for our country, but I could not have imagined just how much evil could be done.

I don't need to list the atrocities this president has allowed and made happen. Many, likely done to promote himself or his label. Many to benefit himself or his family financially. Some, done because others said it was what his base wanted. Lives torn apart. The poisoning of our earth further hastened. A bitter divide increased. I believe that he will be known as the worst United States President in our history.

And so, it is with no small relief and joy that I get ready for tomorrow. I do not suppose for a second that our 46th President will solve everything or will not at times disappoint or even anger me with some decisions. But, I trust that he will lead with an eye for the entire country. That he has been and will continue to listen to others and will surround himself not with "yes" men and women, but with those who will work with and challenge him to best serve our country.

I am a little nervous about what will happen tomorrow. I worry for safety of those involved in the inauguration. I worry about the reaction that might reverberate throughout our country - in capitols and cities. 

My day tomorrow isn't too different than any other. But, I will raise a glass tomorrow night to our new, moral, team-player of a POTUS.

Consequential

My brain is mush. My motivation is pretty low too. I'd like to go hide in a cabin somewhere for a few days - just by myself...but with wifi to watch all the Netflix I want. And, I'll eat all the foods that I crave. Of course, then I'll get a stomach ache and feel uncomfortable because I'm no longer 25 and everything I put into my body seems to have a repercussion.

Tonight we could overhear the boys talking in the play room while we sat talking at the kitchen table. David asked Gabriel, "What is a punishment?" And Gabriel said "It's when you do something bad and then you get something taken away. It's a, it's a...consequence." 

I've been using the word consequence a lot with both kids. And I could tell Gabriel was working hard to remember it - but he did. I've tried to parent with natural consequences - meaning that whatever punishment happens is directly related to what was done wrong. It doesn't always work, but it's pretty easy when it's something like mistreating property. Less obvious when it's simply not listening to parental directions (although, sometimes there too it's obvious...you didn't get your shoes on by yourself when I asked you to, now I will do it for you. You didn't come when I asked, you missed out on the surprise or treat.)

Today's news is full of consequences. Consequences of this current administration's false claims of fraud and stoking of conspiracy, consequences of social media posts that show people committing sedition (and jobs lost), and consequences of the white supremacy upon which our country is built. What we do matters. What we say matters. Who we allow to make decisions matters. 

In many cases, it feels like so many haven't had to bear the consequences of their actions. I saw it noted that lawmakers now know what it's like to cower under desks, as so many school children have done when gunmen have terrorized schools. I'm sure that many in power, including our current president, rarely have to bear the consequences of their decisions and actions - but others do.

I won't be eating all the junk food I want. My kids are still going to have a toy taken away if they throw it at someone. And I'll be watching to see what consequences bear out from all the terror inflicted yesterday.

January 6, 2020

Today started with the wonderful news that the Senate elections, which I wrote postcards for, seemed to be going in my favor. (In my humble opinion, in the favor of the country, really). Rev. Warnock was declared the winner of his race, and Jon Ossoff was expected to win, which he did later this afternoon.

And then a not-entirely unexpected thing happened. Trump supporters descended upon Washington D.C. Not just to protest but to cause insurrection. While I disagree with their opinion, I fully support their right to protest - but not to storm Congress and interrupt the ratification of the vote for POTUS.

It seemed as if they were practically allowed to enter. It seemed as if those guarding the Capital were woefully unprepared and staffed. I wonder what we will learn in the coming days and weeks - but right now a lot still seems murky.

Yesterday I complained about 4-year-old behavior - and perhaps I should start to refer to him as a little insurrectionist. Because when he doesn't get his way, or we say something he doesn't like, he screams and throws things. Even his own things. And that is what it seems like the current President is doing.

Postcards to Voters

For this year's presidential elections, I felt like I needed to do something more than contribute money, so I wrote 200 postcards to Wisconsin urging people who might vote to do so. (My understanding it targeted people who were sometime-voters). I followed that up with 90 more sent to Georgia. Here is when I mailed the Wisconsin postcards in October. The text was something like, "Dear [first name], thank you for being a voter (or first-time voter). Who you vote for is a secret, but whether you vote is public information. Please vote in the Tuesday, November 3rd election. Local organizations may follow up with you to update your voting record. Amy"

Then, knowing that Georgia's Senate election will determine who has control of the Senate, I signed up to write 100 postcards, and then grabbed 75 more. I also was getting our Christmas cards out at the same time, so I was writing a lot. The text for these was, "Dear [first name], Thank you for be a voter (or voters...some of these for for couples or entire households). Please vote in the Tuesday, January 5th Senate elections for Rev. Warnock and Jon Ossoff. Amy." 

It was not much, but it was something I was able to do.