Look Up
Today, I weep.
Today, a new president and his administration take the helm of our nation.
It sucks.
I don’t say that because “my side” lost. I say it because real people are in danger of losing their livelihoods, their rights, and their very lives. And not just some ethereal “people” out there. These are my friends, my neighbors, my coworkers, my family.
Today, I see the brokenness of humanity on full display as thousands cheer on, with blind nationalistic fervor, a man of unrepentant arrogance, unrestrained petulance, egregious selfishness, and dubious morals. A man who not only espouses racism, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, and rape culture in his personal life, but who also enables others to act on similar beliefs.
Today, I want to look down, to heed the words sung to Jean Valjean:
“Look down. Look down. You’re standing in your grave.”
Today, however, I’m going to choose to look up.
Yes, humanity is broken. But we’ve always been broken. Today, we see that brokenness on display. But we can’t trick ourselves into thinking we weren’t messed up before and we won’t be messed up in the future.
But all hope is not lost.
There are still multitudes who daily choose love instead of hate. Neighbors still look out for each other. Conversations happen; opinions evolve and change. Some with positions of influence still stand by those who have been made powerless. A great many people demonstrate with their daily lives that hate and selfishness do not have the final say.
Today, my heart is downcast. Yet, I still have hope.
There is something out there that is bigger than hate.
Love.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13)
Because of this, I have hope.
Today, I weep.
But in the end, love wins.
This is part 3 of a 52-week writing challenge in which I am participating. Thanks for reading!
