Once More with Feeling
When what you want overlaps with what God wants, the 459th time could very well be the charm.
Luke 5:5-6
Simon answered, “We have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst.
Today it feels like nothing I’m doing to resist the hostile takeover of my country matters. Trans folks like me are suffering due to some of the myriad policies currently in force that directly contradict the commandments of my loving God. Why should I call my congressperson AGAIN when they don’t ever do what God wants them to do? Why should I engage with family members who voted for the regime trying to erase my existence when they haven’t shown any signs of remorse? It’s insane to “do the same thing over and over expecting different results.” Why bother?
Through Scripture, I have my answer: it’s different when Jesus is with me. Going through the motions becomes true performance when the Good Shepherd leads the dance. Labors that yielded nothing fruitful overflow when the Prince of Peace lends his Presence. Nothing is a sure failure with Emmanuel.
Invoke the presence of the Son of God and call your elected officials. Again. Do it again. Complain again. When what you want overlaps with what God wants, the 459th time could very well be the charm.
—Kate Davoli
Why does religion keep abdicating power to government (welfare) and capitalism (entertainment)? Individual love, forgiveness, and equality are the only sustainable ways to get to social peace and justice. Why do we keep endorsing winner-take-all and majority rules systems designed to exclude? Why not change our Constitution again to keep expanding who is included in our government, so we can have multiple parties and candidates sharing executive power?
More importantly, why doesn't religion focus on leading our governments and businesses by example and demonstrating consensus, rather than majority rules? Consensus may seem slow in the short run, but not the long run. Only Quakers, who use consensus, reunited over the divisive issue of slavery BEFORE the Civil War because listening carefully to understand other views broadens perspectives beyond the selfish. As an independent with a wide variety of views from far left to far right and many in between, why do partisans in both parties think the other side is stupid or evil, instead of merely human, not perfect, or just different priorities? Why doesn't religion fix the divisiveness of hierarchy by first removing the mote from its own eye?