How do you embody resilience when the world is falling apart? Right now, ICE is trying to destroy communities and families, our democracy is on the brink of tyranny, the government has armed thugs pulling people off the street without cause demanding papers to prove citizenship as if we lived in some dystopian novel – or 1940's Germany. For those of us with compassionate hearts, it’s easy to let the despair overwhelm us, to feel helpless.
And yet… and yet. Look at Minneapolis. In below freezing temperatures, 100's of thousands of people show up day after day to take care of each other. 100’s of thousands of people on strike; 100's of thousands of people marching; 100’s of thousands of people stopping ICE; 100’s of thousands of people making phone calls, making hot tea/coffee, blowing whistles; 1000's being arrested, and yes, even killed, to stand up for liberty and justice.
When time are hard, Mr. Rogers told us to “look to the helpers.” That’s us. The helpers. In any way that we help even from afar – donations, phone calls to government reps, letters to senators, emails of support, vigils, marches. Or our beloved congregant, Bob Melville used to say, “whatever you can do, do do.” That is resilience – do whatever you can do.
With you in resistance and resilience,
Rev. Sian
Rev. Sian Wiltshire is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's minister. Please feel free to reach out and say hello! She can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302).