In these hard times, you will hear people call good evil and evil good. The corrupt are lifted up as innocent and as persecuted while the blameless are called criminals, murderers and rapists. Immigrants are said to be the source of crime in this country while research shows undocumented immigrants commit a lower rate of the crimes than the rest of us. We are witnessing mass deportations that Europe experienced in 1930s Germany. Ask yourself, how will you stand up for immigrants? Know right from wrong.  

In a time of lies, fear, and hatred look to love. Love can be your path when all else is uncertain. Choose love even when hatred feels righteous. Turn your back on lies even when lies would be to your advantage. Rely on your loved ones for guidance. Be humble. It’s a fruit of the Spirit. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable. It isn’t your job to correct everyone and you need to watch out for switching from righteous to self-righteous. We need to watch for when we ourselves get things wrong. Remember we fight systems and not people. 

You are flooded with news stories in an effort to overwhelm you. Steve Bannon explains it this way, “The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with s—- [crap].” Only he didn’t say crap. By filling your mind with so much you are less able to focus your attention on any one thing. Let love come first when nothing else is clear. Love others and receive the love of God.

We may have our resources taken away. Jobs are lost. Money and benefits promised to us by the government can be canceled. Freedoms that are guaranteed by the dream of a society can vanish when the people around you no longer believe in it. The laws and the courts only matter if we, collectively, grant them authority. We can fight this by continuing to believe in the dream. Love even when everything seems bleak and hopeless.

The rich will consume the wealth of the nation while blaming the poor, the sick and the aged for society’s woes. Watch for the neurodivergent and the disabled to be called burdens to society. Even life is not guaranteed. 

We are now hearing language about the health of neurodivergent and the health of children with disabilities along with the poor health of other children other being a “burden” and “a dire threat to the American people and our way of life.” This sort of language can be a prelude to something far worse. Twentieth Century Europe proved that. Trans kids are finding gender affirming care denied to them across the US. We need to push back. Love the vulnerable and the weak. Ask yourself, How will you stand up for children, particularly those who are seen as different? We can’t let what has happened in other places happen here.

Do not give up on caring for the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and those on the margins. Love those who are different than you. Work for justice. Offer care as an individual. Build communities of people who share your beliefs and work together. The church is a good start, so too are friend circles. Build those communities into coalitions. Think Interfaith Food Pantry. If you can, work somewhere that shares your values. If you can’t, at least be kind, honest, and caring to everyone you encounter where you work.

Through hard times we can rely on the love of God. God will love us always. If you can hold in your mind God’s love for you then you can feel God’s love surround you. God’s love is there and you can tap into it. Picture God’s love as warm sunlight in the winter or a cool breeze in a hot summer. You can also feel God’s love through the love others show you, but also when God’s love flows through you to others.

Fear can hold us back, but only if we let it. Tyrants have far more control when we limit ourselves before they force us to. Professor Timothy Snyder in his pamphlet On Tyranny, warns “Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.” 

Act boldly especially in doing good. Death can stop us but we can release ourselves from the fear of death. In times such as these it is important to discern right from wrong and know how you will respond to those in power when the time comes. What is just custom and what is a solid rule? What is religious and what is moral?

I pray that things do not get any worse. In other places and other times people were not mentally and emotionally prepared when the worst came. If you think through what you will do then you have a chance to respond out of your values and not just fear and adrenaline. Know what are lines in the sand for you. What will you resist? What will you acquiesce to after somewhat of a fight? What will you simply refuse to do no matter the cost?

I leave you with these queries:

·       How have you felt the love of God?

·       What is a hard line for you that you will not cross?

Undocumented Immigrants are Less Likely to Commit Crimes https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/undocumented-immigrant-offending-rate-lower-us-born-citizen-rate