“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but
each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless
diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a
man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes
out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each
other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build
a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and
resistance.”
Robert
F. Kennedy
_______________________________________________________
There was a time
When those in power sought to change the world
To shape history
Not to change the world into one where they had power
Where they had wealth
Where they had safety and comfort
But to change the world into a place
Where everyone was respected
Everyone was helped to become more than they were
Where people are willing to sacrifice to improve the lot of
others,
To end injustice,
To stand up for the truth,
And for what is right and ethical
There was a time when our leaders sought to lift us all up
To new heights
To compassion
Generosity
Creativity
And even, yes even, love
They were not perfect, these leaders
They had their moments where they moved toward war
When they had affairs
Its not easy having power and money
And staying ethical, and moral, and kind
Jimmy Carter did it, and we disliked him, and judged him
weak
But still
The first President I really paid attention to was JFK
In the summer before he was murdered
I met him
He was driving through the streets of Rome
There to attend the investiture of Pope Paul VI
We were standing in the middle of a deserted plaza as he
drove in
He sparked hope, and progess
It was a powerful time
And then he was killed
By hate? By those who
wanted to manipulate and control
But those who had darker purposes?
There have been many more since then
Good, indifferent, lucky, and now?
Now the one who leads our country
And the ones who enable him
Seem to have lost sight of leadership
If they are seeking to bend history, it is toward things
that benefit them, no others
If they are striking out it is against the very things that
create justice, and equity
There are no acts of courage
Only deals made in back rooms
Lies in public
And numerous acts of corruption
And so history is being shaped
But waters that are dark
And ripples are those of despair
I am not a pessimist
I believe that we are Sacred Children
And that ultimately the Sacred will win
Love will win
And I believe that we are called to resist
And fight the looming oppression
But with the Psalmist I cry, “How long?”
And I worry about the carnage that may ensue
Before things are set right
I worry about how many immigrants will be turned away to die
About how many people will die unnecessary deaths because we
have to make money off of health care
About how many young black people will be gunned down
About how many will die of cancer because preventive care
has been cut
About how many LGBTQI people will lose their jobs
About how many children will grow up in poverty and be
twisted forever by ACES (Adverse Childhood Evnets)
Because of these leaders
This government
I worry about how many innocents will die in other countries
About whether we will see the rebirth of nuclear warfare
About how many species will cease to exist
About how many people will end up starving and home due to
war and climate change
Because of these leaders
This government
I understand that you may think I am being sensationalistic
But I look at the world through the eyes of the my faith
From the perspective of one who follows a God who is love
And I am grieved
By this administration
By the so called “evangelical church” which enables it
By those who have doubled down and become entrenched in
racism, and hate
There has been a lot of history between that President who
touch my life in my early years (1963)
And now
I was so thrilled to see my President on that day in Rome
Today, I would probably lower my head
Turn, and tearfully walk away
Praying
Praying
Praying
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