15 Minutes of Fame

evil has its 15 minutes of fame

always

 

it has its moments of transcendence

when everything seems to be going its way

and it struts and bloviates

 

evil has it moments

as people, caught up in a lust for

domination

retribution

power

 

plan iniquity

who plot evil in the hallways of Congress

in the boardrooms of commerce

in the retreats of the rich

 

and then carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

 

they suppress votes

they use their power to coerce and control

and to punish

 

they buy politicians (and become politicians)

they perpetrate fraud

and cast families on the street

they destroy the earth for profit

 

yes, evil has its 15 minutes of fame

and we cowed and battered

have our moments of despair

 

for it seems as if the dark malignancy of QAnon

as if those pushing the lies

as if hate and greed and racism and ignorance

as if those who “hate good and love evil”

will win

 

and yet

love

 

dare we believe that love is more powerful than hate

generosity more powerful than greed

kindness more powerful than retribution

 

we say it blithely

love always wins

 

does it?

 

I, like Paul “am convinced

that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

(Romans 8)

 

the path to this victory may be a painful one

a path of sacrifice

the ascendance of love does not come easily

 

if love is to win

we must be connected to Love

filled with Love

guided by Love

impelled by Love

compelled by Love

(come Holy Spirit, come)

 

but love can win

at times evil seems invincible (Gandhi)

 

at times the tyrants and would be tyrants

seem to be unbeatable

but they always fall

hard

 

evil may have its moments

but it will not prevail

if we do not give up, if we do not tire of doing good (Gal. 6)

if we keep telling the truth

keep giving

keep welcoming

if we keep loving

 

evil may have its 15 minutes of fame

but love has eternity