With the news of wars and ridiculousness coming out daily from the White House which is increasingly untethered to reality, common sense, or even a faint recognition of what people are actually struggling with, it can feel overwhelming to know how to respond. And of course, we know this is why, in part, they do what they do. They want us overwhelmed and inured to the deep and lasting harm they are causing people around the world. They want us to become accustomed to injustice.
But we are fooling ourselves if we think this is unique to this administration. Adapting to harm is as American as apple pie. The United States readily accepted the genocide of indigenous people, brutal slavery, Jim Crow segregation, state-sponsored terror, and, in the last 20+ years, torture and out-of-control spending on militarism. We are once again focused on militaristic interventionism. trump is playing video games with peoples’ lives, but I cannot help wondering that if we decided that we were going to drastically reduce our military spending and only spend money on the military when it was called for and actually needed, it would require lawmakers to take the time to decide whether that expense was worth it. Imagine thinking and debating rationally about policy before recklessly implementing something based on whims and prejudice.
Yeah, stuff is overwhelming and it can often feel like that unless we are standing outside the gates of the White House screaming for change that we are not actually creating transformation in the world. I don’t believe this though. I do like to stand outside the White House and scream, but I have seen how building community and taking the time for celebration give us at least glimpses of liberation. Let me share about this past week at the Festival Center because I think I saw this kind of holy resistance.
Each month we have around 5000 people who walk through our doors for various events or to work in our co-working space or to visit one of the 45 nonprofits that call our space home. I sincerely love working the front desk and getting to welcome all of the people who visit us and hear about the creative, amazing, life-changing work they are doing.
A group that we welcomed last week was the progressive evangelical group, Sojourners. They had a staff retreat and they were with us every day. We as a staff got to spend time with them and hear about the wonderful work they do, including putting out a much beloved magazine each month (and the Festival Center is their newest subscriber!). There is so much talent on that staff and they do their work with such joy.
On Monday night we welcomed two synagogues who were coming together for a Purim celebration, which originated in the 4th Century BCE from the book of Esther, one of my favorite books. It is such a fun night and the folks who were here had a blast.
On Tuesday and Saturday nights we welcomed different Muslim groups celebrating Iftar, which is a community meal to celebrate the end of the day in Ramadan when people come together, make their prayers, and then sing songs, express their gratitude, spiritually reflect on life, and eat! Saturday night, one of the things the group did together was to write their prayers on post-it notes and put them on a wall so all could join them in their prayer. I got to read the various prayers people had written and they were so moving. Instinctively, I put my hand on each of the notes and prayed with them for their prayers to happen. People prayed for an end to war, for spiritual encouragement for those depressed at how overwhelming everything is, for an end to the failed “War on Terror,” for peace and love to reign, and so much more. Standing at the wall and reading the prayers of my Muslim siblings was one of the most worshipful things I have done in so long.
Also on Saturday night we had two birthday parties! One was for my sweet and loving wife, Marti. Her birthday was in February but her devoted husband got a stomach bug that ruined her birthday and so we made it up to her by having an enormously fun party which featured Tara Hoot. Tara is an amazingly gifted Drag Queen and she led us in songs, sharing, and bingo as we all celebrated our own unique gifts and talents. She is an amazing performer, but also, in so many ways, a real pastoral presence, lifting people up who feel overwhelmed and saddened.
Lastly, on Sunday we welcomed a group of formerly fired federal workers from USAID who are helping enormously gifted people through career transitions. It was beautiful to see so many people find community together in what is one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Scattered throughout these celebrations this week have been the numerous meetings, worship services, and daily conversations which weave us together and prepare us for the struggles we are working through. No, we didn’t stop the US from bombing Iran this week and we likely will not stop the US from bombing Cuba next week. Our resistance was centered in celebrating life, listing up the holiness of relationships and having groups from all creeds and backgrounds share their lives together that builds community and creates joy. Community and joy is just what they do not want us to have. It is these glimpses of liberation that make the struggle worth the work.
