Anger. So much anger.
And fear. More fear than sense, apparently.
At least fear and anger are emotions that I can understand and, if we’re all being honest, there are some pretty good reasons out there for all those feelings.
I don’t know if that is what bothers me most this morning or if it is the ever-emboldened vitriol and blame that half of us have for the other half.
What I do know is that this call for compassion that I’m posting on this blog today won’t get the kind of coverage that the riots are getting, or the horrifying (and always anonymous) notes left on cars and the doors of our neighbors who voted the other way spewing hatred and contempt, or even the posts on social media that castigate “those people” who are allegedly trying like hell to run this country to ruin as fast as humanly possible – which isn’t true.
But to many it feels true, so that’s what we’re going with, I guess.
Many of you have sent me messages and emails to offer your condolences, worried at the condition of my heart (bless yours) and some were probably even anticipating a scathing SATURDAISIES this morning on the impending doom we face and the injustice of it all.
I’m sorry to disappoint you on that last one. You won’t be getting that today. I completely understand if you click out of this screen right now and go back to circling your wagons in the camp of your choice. If surrounding yourself with like-minded souls who validate your frustration – or your elation – at the outcome of this election, soothes your own heart, then you do what seems best for you and affords you the comfort or the camaraderie that you seek.
We’ve all been there.
Truly, the condition of my heart was largely the same on November 9th as it was on November 8th.
I am patently undaunted in my resolve to bring Hope to a desperate world, and I am out to recruit all the Hope Givers I can possibly enlist to do their part in the vanguard of a Kingdom that has nothing – and I mean nothing – to do with the politics of this world.
I’m not sitting here on my overstuffed chair this morning wrapped up in this blanket, drinking my tea, trying to convince you that I’m not concerned about what the next four years will bring. I didn’t vote for our President Elect for many reasons, every one of which came from his own lips. That’s not a big secret, and it would be disingenuous now to sugar that up after the fact.
I do not and have not and will not believe for one moment that any man-made, political system can fix what is broken in this world.
What have I been writing and speaking about for months?
Hope.
And what is the context that provides such a message?
Fear.
Anger.
Despair.
Grief.
Vitriol.
Blame.
Shame.
Uncertainty.
Chaos.
Well, here we are.
And what are we going to do about it?
Double-down on our hatred for “the other?”
Then Hope won’t come.
Vilify all those with whom we disagree?
Then Hope won’t come.
Try to change the world one snarky Facebook meme at a time?
Then Hope won’t come.
C.S. Lewis sums it up precisely:
We can be crushed beneath the weight of the current climate of our nation right now to the point that it debilitates us. We can be overcome by the magnitude of frustration that we see all around us spilling out of our communities. We can allow ourselves to be sucked into the blame and shame game that none of us ever seems to win. We can slice and dice ourselves up to absolute kibbles and bits, rallying with those who look like us, speak like us, think like us, championing each and every issue that only serves to divide us and distract us from truly going about the business of our Father. But here’s what I choose:
I will always, resolutely and with great volume, make it very clear:
Misogyny has no place in this world.
Racism has no place in this world.
Intolerance has no place in this world.
Violence has no place in this world.
Oppression has no place in this world.
Rape culture has no place in this world.
Human trafficking has no place in this world.
Starvation has no place in this world.
Addiction, hunger, poverty, hatred, slavery, and abuse must all be eradicated from the face of the earth.
I will always, alongside some of the greatest Hope Givers the world has ever seen:
Stand against child abuse and domestic violence.
Love and embrace my LGBT brothers and sisters.
Advocate for those who flee to this country to escape the oppression in theirs.
Bring the LDS missionaries into my home and love them like my own daughters and sons.
Devote my life – my whole life – to educating the world’s young people.
Make girls believe in themselves.
Make boys believe in themselves.
Bind up the brokenhearted – regardless of who they voted for.
Bring good news to the poor – regardless of who they voted for.
Bring freedom for captives and release from darkness the prisoners – regardless of who they voted for.
Feed the hungry – regardless of who they voted for.
Give something to drink to those who are thirsty – regardless of who they voted for.
Visit the sick and imprisoned – regardless of who they voted for.
Invite the stranger in – regardless of who they voted for.
Care for the orphans and the widows – regardless of who they voted for.
Love justice.
Show mercy.
Walk humbly.
I will declare the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God.
I will come with healing in one hand and a sword in the other.
Anything else is a waste of my time and everyone else’s.
Because here is what I know:
Hope is Here – IF we bring it.
Please know that I am here for you. I don’t care how you voted. I don’t blame you. I don’t hate you. I really, really love you. Most of us are doing the best we can. The majority of us, most likely, are really good people who care about this country. I hope you aren’t adding to the discord no matter how high emotions run. I hope when the world goes low, you go high. I hope you are returning kindness for hatred.
Tweet ThisI have come from unimaginable pain and grief and anger. I have been at the mercy of someone who had no mercy. Defenseless, unable for many years to change my situation. But my situation did change. I became empowered and emboldened to advocate for myself and for others. I have learned the power of forgiveness and surrender and work daily to employ gentleness and grace to those around me. I haven’t yet worked out all the kinks, but I’m open to the change that love brings. I’m also quite open to kicking Evil’s pathetic ass and all that that requires.
I will come and speak about Hope to your church, retreat, youth group, or whatever organization you are a part of — I will even Skype into your homes where you’ve gathered your friends. I will Skype anywhere I cannot logistically travel. You have but to ask. I’m not going to write anything new in 2017 — I am going to spend the entirety of next year honoring the writing I’ve already done. If you are feeling afraid for the future, angry at the “other half” of this country, or despairing that we are ultimately helpless in making the world a better, safer, more loving place, I have great hope for you. In fact, I have great hope for us all and I would cherish the opportunity to come and share that hope with you.
Daisy Rain Martin is an author, speaker, advocate, and educator as well as a founding member of The Flying M-Inklings Writing Group. She lives with her husband, Sean-Martin, in the beautiful state of Idaho and teaches English and Literature during the school year to the best 7th graders the world over. Daisy spends her summers writing, speaking, researching, creating, gardening, and canning.
Hope Givers: Hope is Here, is the sequel, of sorts, to her comedic, spiritual memoir, Juxtaposed: Finding Sanctuary on the Outside, which was Christopher Matthews #1 top selling book in 2012. She has also written a free e-book for anyone who has or is currently being sexually abused called, If It’s Happened to You.
Please follow her weekly blog, SATURDAISIES, which addresses a plethora of current issues including child advocacy, all things hilarious, and matters of the heart. She would love for you to join the Rainy Dais Community by friending her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.