Choosing to Build in a Time of Tearing Down

Each morning (ok, most mornings), I choose to get up a little earlier than I’d really like to in order to keep a promise I’ve made to myself. I will start the day with practices that are grounding and life saving for me. These don’t have to take more than 10 minutes, though I’m better for it when they do. I make and take this time—for gratitude, for prayer and meditation, for wonder. The exact nature of what happens in this time is not actually what’s most important. The most important thing is that I begin the day by building my capacity for love and hope, for spiritual strength. 

In our nation, this is a time of tearing down. Institutions that have imperfectly but with important positive impact attempted to care for the common good, the practices of democracy, and the east wing of the White House are all coming down around us. In this time, it is more important than ever that we remember our power, our agency, and our responsibility to ourselves and each other. It is more important than ever that we choose to build. 

In this time, it is more important than ever that we remember our power, our agency, and our responsibility to ourselves and each other. It is more important than ever that we choose to build. 

In our individual and collective lives, we can make the choice to build. Personally, what daily practices might you commit or re-commit to that build you and your family and friends up, that strengthen your spirit in these days? 

Here at church, we are building and strengthening a community committed to practicing Beloved Community and living with love and hope. Working together, the staff and board have developed a series of theological themes that we’ll be focusing on this year as well as a workplan for our collective shared ministry. Maybe you’ve already experienced these in action. I hope you’ll take a look and learn more—and lean in—as we collectively build up our spiritual resilience, shared experiences of Beloved Community, and humility. 

Indian author and activist, Arundhati Roy, wrote: “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” May we remember and reclaim our responsibility, and our joy, as we listen for and build up this world. 

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen