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I Am Not Resigned

I know.  But I do not approve.  And I am not resigned. 
- Dirge Without Music, Edna St. Vincent Millay* 

It is difficult to communicate what it means to have a teachable spirit. How do I encourage people to live in a way that shows curiosity and a willingness to learn about others and their experiences? It is possible to learn to be different in the world while being gentle with yourself and without shaming the you of the past or expecting perfection of the you of the future. Trying to accomplish this is so hard as to feel impossible. 

I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. 

The political and social systems of the United States have only been united in one thing for generations. Keeping class dissension alive by exacerbating differences between people of different races and cultural backgrounds means that those who are at the highest reaches of wealth will rarely have their windows rattled (metaphorically). In particular, if people can be convinced that upper reaches of wealth is the goal and your neighbor who is different doesn't want you to reach that goal- very little will have to change because the puck will have been taken out of play and the game is just the fight. 

I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. 

The pandemic of COVID-19 has revealed what has always been true. A healthy economy depends on the workers who are paid the least and those who keep healthcare available and healthcare facilities open. If a country is not prepared to recognize this reality and shift priorities to support this truth, things will continue to be chaotic and confusing. Science learns and adapts and a society that wishes to be known for accepting reason and accountability will also value learning and adaptation. So far, that is only true for some communities and countries in the world. 

I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. 

The name of God and the will of God is being tossed around lightly without much care for what has previously been stated as divine priority. God values community that prioritizes health, sharing, and inclusion of all in the community (1 Corinthians). God values witness to the stranger over preaching to the choir (Jonah). God's house is meant to be a house of prayer (Isaiah, Matthew). God dislikes people who say that things are okay or peaceful when they really are not (Jeremiah). People of the church have a tendency to speak to their own wills, but claim their words come from God. 

I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. 

I am very tired. I know the present situation will likely continue for sometime. We have to learn how to do things differently. We have to want to learn how to do things differently. People aren't great at that. 

I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned. 



*A. The poem itself is about not simply accepting that people will be forgotten after death as inevitable. 

*B. I was inspired for this post by the Rev. Liz Crumlish's post here. 

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