Rev. Michelle's Message November 7, 2024

MINISTER’S MESSAGE: 

This has been a tough week. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, I think it’s safe to say that the whole election process has been stressful, divisive, emotional, and exhausting for all of us. There are strong feelings on both sides. Some are joyously celebrating while others are feeling deep disappointment, disillusionment, and despair.

Wherever your political loyalties lie, the truth is that many, many people are feeling great fear, great loss, and great devastation in the wake of the election result. Some fear they may lose their right to marry who they love. Some fear their reproductive rights will be taken away. Some fear they will be deported. Some fear for their very bodily safety. If we aren’t in one of those groups of people experiencing great fear, we are privileged. But we must acknowledge what others are experiencing, even if it is not our own experience.

There will be time to get to work, to fight for social justice, to stand in our faith and work to protect “the least of these.” But for now, the feelings must be felt. The emotions must be got through. The collective unveiling of our national shadow is a painful process. There is no shortcut or way to circumvent what is being revealed to us as a nation, as a people. Our hurting nation must face the reality of our deep divisions, of our distrust of one another, and of our radically different worldviews.

It will not be easy. But it must be felt. All of it. We cannot heal what we cannot face. We cannot fix what we have not acknowledged is deeply broken. We must be brave if we are to uncover the collective shadow and hold it up to the light.

And so as a beloved commUnity, we will hold space for one another to feel our feelings, to safely share our fears, our pain, our grief. We will call on the strength of our bonds with one another to sustain us as we navigate these challenging times. We will remind each other of the Truth of our own divinity and the Truth of God’s infinite and abiding love for all of Creation. We will remind one another of our connection to nature, our place in the vast web of life, our belonging to the family of all things.

Collectively, we must find a way forward. And we will. But for now, we feel. We grieve. First the pain, then the rising.

We do not need to turn to joy, yet.

We do not need to find hope, yet.

We do not need to organize, yet.

Today, we can howl at the moon,

Cover our mirrors,

Rend our garments.

There will be time to reignite,

To fight for our country,

To protect the vulnerable

With everything we have.

But, today,

We grieve. -Peggy Gannon

Many Blessings,

Rev. Michelle