On a Day Like Today, Thankfulness (believe it or not)

 This morning I watched a video of President Trump and Vice President Vance in a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky. The behavior and disrespect exhibited by our leaders was shameful and I refuse to add a video link to this space. All the news sources have it so you can choose to watch it there if you want to.

The President and Vice President seemed to want gratitude from President Zelensky, but they gave him no opportunity to speak.  Later in the morning, President Zelensky tweeted a thank you note, which included the words, "thank you" four times, listing things he was grateful for. He completely omitted any mention of the shameful behaviors our leaders exhibited.

Thank you, President Zelensky, for being an example of leadership.

It has been rough to get that scene out of my mind...

Tougher still to imagine what it means to have such cruel, rude, inhumane people as the two highest leaders in our country. 

I had a free afternoon, and it was above 70 degrees outside, so I took the dog for a very long walk. While I walked I listened to Robin Wall Kimmerer reading her newest book, The Serviceberry, and also began listening to the beginning of Wholehearted Faith, by Rachel Held Evans. Gratitude re-entered my head and heart.

Kimmerer describes a respectful and beautiful economy where having enough and being grateful can be the way we move through the world with each other.

Rachel Held Evans paints an honest picture both of the ways we mess up our faith, and also the ways it can be reclaimed honestly with our truest selves.

The walk was lovely. Some of the trees have the first hint of green beginning to show up as tiny buds on their outermost branches. The winter will be over soon.

All these things were healing for me. I'll return to them often in the next days and weeks.

When I arrived home, I found I could no longer keep the images of public humiliation and bullying out of my mind. We cooked supper together, and still I couldn't get over it. I decided to look up today's reading from Rejoice.

The reading is from Luke 9:28-36, and is commonly called the transfiguration.

When I read it, it didn't resonate at first.

And then it did.

The transfiguration included two faith leaders who had to risk their lives to speak truth to corrupt rulers, each in their own times. They came to speak with Jesus, offering him support in what he knew he was facing. Who better to meet at that moment with Jesus? The experience so moved Peter that he offered to build three tabernacles in their honor.  

Moses spoke out against Pharoah, who had no empathy for those who served him, and held no value for their lives.

Elijah had to come against Ahab and Jezebel, notoriously evil rulers, and ended up fleeing for his life.

Jesus was facing crucifixion by a combination of corrupt Jewish and Roman rulers, along with the complicity of a crowd of people who would rather turn on him than risk following him publicly in a world where that could be life threatening.

 Where does all of this leave us?

It is true that we aren't guaranteed safety or comfort.

I've come to expect safety and comfort because that has been my experience...

I've been fortunate enough to have been safe and had what I needed. 

I can't let possibility of losing that immobilize me.

So I have to ground myself in 

truth

gratitude

wonder

hope

resolve.

 It is important to do the things that fill my spirit;
get outside, 

read good writing, 

fill my mind with inspiring ideas, 

remind myself that there are infinite wonders 

and wisdom 

and poetry 

and truth 

in many places...

and many people with the convictions to speak truth, 

offer hope, 

and share with those who have needs.

I need to notice those good things daily.

I want to be thankful for things worthy of gratitude.

It is important to also do what I can, 
share what I have, 
call or write letters or emails to those who are elected to represent me,

and nurture myself so I can also be faithful.