On a Saturday morning in January, I realized that the rungs on my life ladder are running low. I can’t get a kitten because I could outlive it. Waiting for the right time never comes. “Mom, can I drop off the kids? Can you pick up? Tracey, can you read this over for me? Down I go. If I don’t take control of the ascent, I will run out of rungs.
The world is a scary place now. We have an unhinged, vile figure in the White House. He spews hate and a crowd of former locker-fearing middle schoolers cheer him on. After decades of reliving adolescent wounds, they’ve finally found a sense of belonging and they’ll do anything to stay in the club. Lying is not only acceptable but also condoned, rejoiced, and even celebrated. Millions of people file into church. They pretend to praise God. They act as if they live a life of Christianity while spewing cruelty and hate. It is exhausting and chaotic, and that is the point. I choose not to let it take me with it.
The airplane analogy is fitting: Put your own mask on before helping others traveling with you. The first step is to distance myself from those who steal my peace. That has meant that friendships over decades now fade into memories. For me, it was never politics. For me, it has always been core values. I am one of the lucky ones who have the majority of my family members share similar values. Once on firm ground, I sought people who respect honesty, fairness, and kindness. I am going to look for stories of good to feed my soul. I don’t know about you, but I am over the hate.
Minneapolis is on fire. ICE, masked men armed with guns, are terrorizing the people. Hourly headlines spotlight cruelty in the streets, and corruption spews from the White House. Yesterday, Jake Lang, a white supremacist, far-right influencer, and pardoned January 6th rioter was betrayed by his followers and physically attacked at the “March Against Minnesota Fraud” rally. He was rescued and escorted to safety by a black man. The irony was unmistakable. Compassion overrode hatred, and it was delivered by the very man he came to degrade. And there it was, a glimmer of hope in the swirl of despair. Let’s see what we can find this week.
foursetsofeyes 