I keep hearing the cry … “what is hope?” and the cry … “where is hope?”
Lives – bodies, minds, spirits – will be assaulted by threats, violence, racism, sexism, broken promises, and more lies. As families are separated, the economy worsens and darkness plummets in areas of education, health, environment, personal safety and more.
Augustine died in 430. It was a time when many Romans fled for their lives to North Africa because of violence and corruption in high offices. It was a time when hope seemed to be elusive – and invisible. Terrible times.
Sound familiar? In the fifth century, he wrote these words: “Hope has two daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage … ‘anger’ at the way things are … and ‘courage’ to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
These days, many are experiencing elusive hope … invisible hope. Augustine knew that the only way through terrible times was for hope to emerge. His words guided the people at that time. Could they guide people at this time? Could we be called to hope, in spite of it all?
What if we allowed the anger at the “way things are” to surface by expressing our feelings in journalling, focusing on our breathing, artwork and sharing those feelings in conversations with trusted family, friends, colleagues, professionals?
What if we responded with courage … – by putting one foot in front of the other? – by remembering to breathe? – by inhaling Ruach? – by making time to “be” (remembering that we are human ‘be-ings’ not human ‘do-ings’)? – by sharing our fear, stress, concerns with caring people and welcoming opportunities to live … one moment at a time.
Hope has two daughters. Anger. Courage.
May we give ourselves time space to experience what we are feeling. May we give ourselves time and space to name what we are feeling as ‘anger.’ And may we be open to being siblings of Courage and Hope. In spite of it all.
“Soulistry” is a neologism combining two words: ‘soul’ and ‘artistry’ … soul-space – connecting creativity and spirituality. Sent from the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia. ***********************************************
After reading far too many of the Epstein files, after reading far too much garbage about our Prime Minister (who not only is doing the very best he can, but is giving hope to many Canadians), after reading the “Monsters in Plain Sight” piece by Charlie Angus, this morning, my body, mind and spirit recoiled – even more than it has been doing lately.
I knew I needed to get outdoors. I knew I had to experience something soul-soothing. After a short car ride, I went for a little walk close to my home.
It was misty in the background before me. In the foreground, the barren tree stood tall and erect and the evergreen tree stood proud, seemingly “in charge.” The reflection in the water of the little island gently had me reflect on “upside-down” … like our world these days … like the “upside-down” disorientation deep within me as I read those articles.
The reflection only took a few moments of stillness, of observation of what was before me, around me, within me.
And then it came to me – I was experiencing “upside-down peace.” Upside-down peace that says that … even when it feels as if the world is upside-down … even if it only lasts a moment, peace is still possible.
As I stood looking at the view before me this morning, my soul inhaled the beauty my mind grasped the messages my heart became still for a moment. and in that moment, I knew peace.
Hope – where is it these days? For Kylene, Stuart and their children, the word ‘hope’ seemed like an empty phrase. But sometimes, a little hope, whispered, spoken, cried, shouted, becomes reality. These days, the news seems to get worse by the day. “Where is hope these days?” I asked the question this morning and one word came to me: Lewis.
Lewis, a neighbour’s family ginger cat, had gone missing. I whispered a wee prayer and hoped Lewis would be found. But he wasn’t. A ginger cat started showing up in the back yard. It was skittish and ran away within seconds. But was terribly thin and clearly hungry. One day, after feeding it, I was able to bring it indoors. “Oh please, let it be Lewis,” I whispered. I contacted the family and within minutes, the Dad, Stuart, came over.
As Stuart checked the cat, it was clear that it wasn’t Lewis and that this ginger cat was very ill. So off we went to Duncan Animal Hospital, one of our local vets who kindly cared for it and then turned it over to our local Cat Rescue for adoption. Good ending for that cat, but Lewis was still missing.
That was all before Christmas and I kept praying that Lewis would be found and the family would have a special Christmas gift this year. But that didn’t happen.
And then one morning, I received a wonderful email …“Our ginger cat, was found in Arbutus Ridge!” Thanks to Lewis’ tattoo he’d received from Cowichan Cat Rescue prior to his adoption, he was identified, and the rest, as they say, is history! Happy history!
No one knows how Lewis made it from here to where it was found -14 km away! It is a story that will remain with Lewis. But oh how I’d love to still be teaching Junior and Middle School students so I could tell the students about Lewis and invite them to write a short story about Lewis’ Adventures from when he went missing to when he was found. I’m sure Lewis had plenty of adventures!
Hope. Have you noticed that at times, hope feels like the ‘elusive pimpernel’: sought everywhere, glimpsed briefly, and then gone again. We search for hope … in prayers … in news … in outcomes … in promises … and often come up empty-handed. When headlines overwhelm and prayers feel unanswered, hope can seem fragile – even foolish. Hope does not ask us to deny reality. It asks only that we keep ‘showing up’, keep caring, keep believing that loss is not the final word.
Hope has a way of surviving in disguise, moving quietly through ordinary kindness, persistence, love, peaceful protests. And for those who don’t have hope, then lean on the hope of those of us who do.
Lewis came home. And for a moment, the ‘elusive pimpernel’ of hope let itself be seen.
In a world that so often feels broken, may Lewis remind us that sometimes, quietly, unexpectedly, what is lost, can still be found … even hope.
Today is a day that must be remembered. It is the international Holocaust Remembrance Day and we must …
We must remember the horrors that happened when good people did not believe what was happening.
We must remember the hatred and lust for power which resulted in intimidation, intolerance, corruption, horrifying violence against Jews, Roma, homosexuals, political activists, the disabled (physically and mentally).
Exact numbers of those who died in concentration camps in the Holocaust are unknown, but it is estimated that six million Jews, 15,000 homosexuals, unknown political prisoners, the disabled, and about 1.5 million out of an estimated 2 million Roma were murdered in the Gypsy Holocaust -(Porajmos). Records of one concentration camp (Auschwitz) show unbelievable facts: 1.1 million died … 960,000 Jews (865,000 of whom were gassed on arrival), 74,000 non-Jewish Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 prisoners of war, and up to 15,000 other Europeans.
Many try to forget the reality of what happened in Europe to these people, including clergy who also died while doing their best to support and protect the vulnerable. Many denied the reality of the Holocaust then. Many deny the reality of the Holocaust now.
And many are not seeing distinct similarities between what happened then and what is happening now in the United States with ordinary citizens who are being assaulted, kidnapped, murdered by members of ICE and in Iran with protesters and …
We must remember the words of Martin Niemöller “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
What gave rise to the Holocaust then – anger, hatred, fear – is happening now. And it is growing.
If Niemöller’s words are not taken seriously … if history is not remembered … if action is not taken … if people do not speak up there will be no one left to speak. Democracy will no longer be the reality.
WE MUST REMEMBER Remember that “It didn’t start with gas chambers. It started with politicians dividing the people with ‘us vs them’. It started with intolerance and hate speech, and when people stopped caring, became desensitized and turned a blind eye.” <Auschwitz Memorial>
WE MUST REMEMBER and become educated about the atrocities of the past … educate today’s children so they know the truth. We must do our part in speaking up and speaking out.
WE MUST REMEMBER. Not to remember will have dire consequences.
I don’t live in the United States. I have family there – have dear friends there – was born there – have neighbours / siblings / strangers I care about, there.
What has been going on in that country, particularly lately in Minneapolis with protestors lawfully resisting, ICE agents illegally assaulting and once again, murdering, my emotions are like so many others, raw, reactive, and more, as I try to reflect and recognize that hope still exists, that goodness will overcome.
A black pen found its way into my hand and squiggles and waves and patterns and words began to surface tonight. Living alone, there is no one here with whom I can process it all because I live alone. I found that it felt good to say the words out loud, write the words, spit the words – and realize that tiny fragments of hope and rootedness and faith are there too. They’re few, but they’re there. And I am grateful to see that they are – they exist – they’re there.
So I will hold on to the reality that is deep within me this night. I will hold on to that reality – that hope – for the people of the United States, the people of Iran, the people of Greenland, the people of Ukraine, the people of Palestine, the people of Canada, the people of other parts around the world who are fighting for justice and democracy, for without even a smidgeon of hope, evil wins. It cannot.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, pick up a journal and write your thoughts – squiggle a wiggly line and add some words – talk into a recording device. Let those deep emotions surface for a short moment so they can be acknowledged and no longer have such a strong hold on you.
Drawing this, whatever-it-is, tonight has not been as good as having someone to talk with about it all, but it’s been helpful. It’s one way to get what is deep within me, out, If only for a little bit. And isn’t that part of what resistance is all about? Put the little bits together and change can happen … our own emotional well-being as we try to deal with it all, and the situation itself.
May sleep come this night … to all who live in fear … to those who dread the approaching storms … to all who were present or have watched the videos of today’s murder of a 37 year old American who was defending a young woman tackled to the ground by ICE … and to all who grieve, remembering particularly the family of Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Rest in peace, Alex. May you rest in peace.
