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Fear, Now, and the Stories We Build
What stories do we build about our life?
I am very aware of this question as we move into a new presidential administration in the United States.
Why? I note in myself fears and anxieties about what may come. Fears and anxieties that often connect to the possibility that my rights and the rights of those I care about may erode or be taken away. Are those fears unfounded? It remains to be seen.
It would be easy for me to build a story about life in this moment that only holds that fear, a fear right now connected to promises (and/or threats) rather than concrete realities. In ways, that can make the fear even worse. Sometimes it is easier to prepare for something when you know it will happen. And right now, it’s easy to build the stories that seem terrifying and larger than life.
And…
Today, as I chose my brooch for the day (which I pin to my scarf or shawl), I chose one that has a drawing of people running around in their swimsuits under the crescent moon. It’s perhaps the strangest brooch I own. It makes no sense to me that someone drew a picture of people running around in swimsuits under the crescent moon and made it into a brooch. It’s delightful in it’s oddity.
I mention that because today, the choosing of the swimsuit brooch was a reminder to myself that I will refuse to build my story only around fear. I must have delight. I must have joy. I must have possibility. I need these things to survive.
To be clear, I’m not saying to abandon all fear. I’m not saying that there aren’t valid reasons to be scared. I’m not giving in to toxic positivity and a concept that we *should* be happy or we *should* feel good.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holds this complexity in his essay “A Testament of Hope” in 1968. In much of the essay, he talks about the challenge of ending racism, poverty, and inequality. Holding both the positive and challenging, he says:
Millions of people have fought thousands of battles to enlarge my freedom; restricted as it still is, progress has been made. This is why I remain an optimist, though I am also a realist, about the barriers before us. Why is the issue of equality still so far from solution in America, a nation that professes itself to be democratic, inventive, hospitable to new ideas, rich, productive and awesomely powerful?
In this essay he puts forth challenging questions and thoughts about the state of racism and other challenges in the United States, many which still resonate in 2025. But he doesn’t let go of hope and possibility.
For myself, in the spirit of keeping hope alive inside of me in the midst of challenge, I must return to practices both spiritual and personal (as I realize I am more of a realist and hold less of the optimism that the Rev. Dr. King holds so well). So I return to the practice of how I am building the story of this time. In that practice (if I am to stay as spiritually/mentally/emotionally healthy as possible in these times), I must not let other people, especially politicians, remove all delight in my life. And sometimes, when less delight, joy, and possibility are easily accessible, I must make a practice of building them into my life. So, some days I may party and celebrate with friends because something triumphant has happened. Some days, I may party because my spirit needs uplifting in the midst of struggle. Some days I simply build relationship, as building a relationship with someone brings both joy and community for the challenges ahead. Some days, I may experience fear. And some days, be they easy or hard, I will find the most ridiculous brooch I have, just because it makes me smile.
To my spiritual ancestors and transcestors, thank you for this reminder.
So this week, I wish you all joy, delight, and possibility. Not because it will be right in front of you and easy to access. But because I love you and I refuse to let it be taken from you. I wish these things for you in spite of fear. Emphasis on the spite. Because I want that joy, delight, and possibility (all given in love) to give you sustenance through the challenges that may be ahead.
Pondering action based in love and sending that your way,
Rev Jim
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