November 15, 2024
I continue to look for inspiration and hope in the words of others. I was really hoping I would give myself a break from all things US election related news, but it seems like I keep craving more. Explanations … commentaries … reflections … words of encouragement. I thought I might just share a couple that have helped me this week.
For a number of years I have been following historian Heather Cox Richardson, who sends out a daily email called “Letters from an American”. Richardson, a professor of American history at Boston College, has authored seven books on history and politics. In 2019, Richardson started publishing Letters from an American, a nightly newsletter that chronicles current events in the larger context of American history. Richardson focuses on the health of American democracy. As someone who failed history at every level, I find Richardson accessible, relevant, and balanced. I actually look forward to her posts, which are clear and well researched. Check her out at:
Letters from an American | Heather Cox Richardson | Substack
Many folks in the past couple of days have reposted something from author and motivational speaker Brené Brown’s Instagram. Here is an excerpt:
“Right now, the thing that is helping the most is micro-dosing hope. I have no access to big hope right now, however, I am asking myself how I can support the people around me. The people on my team, in my community. How can I make sure that, in the maelstrom of my emotions, I stay committed to courage, kindness, and caring for others regardless of the choices made by others? Doing the smallest right next thing is hard … but sometimes it’s all we’ve got.”
Microdosing hope. I like that. I experienced that at Saint Vincent’s Guesthouse yesterday afternoon, where I led a short worship service. Local UCC clergy take turns leading once a month, and I used to do this many years ago when I was at St. John’s. So when the Spiritual Care Coordinator emailed in September to see if Bethany would continue to take part, (as the previous minister did), Ann and I agreed that we would continue for this year and evaluate. I was delighted that Linda Grady was able to come to accompany the hymns, and six members of the choir from Bethany joined us to lead in the singing. The service and our presence was received with much gratitude and enthusiasm. And I left, as I always have in the past, humbled, and touched by the spirit. And hopeful.
Where are you experiencing microdoses of hope these days?
Last week I talked about perseverance and persistence in the face of injustice and social change. It always brings me hope to think about an experience I had nearly 20 years ago, when I went to a university chaplains’ conference at Columbia University in New York City. Very close to Columbia is a well known Episcopal church called St. John the Divine. They are known for their art exhibits and music concerts in the beautiful sanctuary.
One of the exhibits we saw was a new exhibit called Americans Who Tell the Truth – Models of Courageous Citizenship, by painter Robert Shetterly. I was completely taken with this exhibit. The project has grown since then. I would urge you to check out their website … videos, paintings, resources, and lots of information about their traveling exhibits and educational programs.
In one video interview with the artist, he talks about how he started the project in 2003 after 911, feeling quite helpless about what he could do. He thought he would start to paint portraits of Americans who had stood up for truth and justice. He said his goal was to paint 50 portraits. There are narratives that accompany these portraits of citizens who courageously address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness.
The exhibit has been traveling around the country since 2003. This week, it travels to Portlalnd, Maine. I have attached an article from the local newspaper.
Maine artist’s ‘Americans Who Tell the Truth’ collection coming to Bates Mill
Venues have included everything from university museums and grade school libraries to sandwich shops, and the Superior Court in San Francisco. To date, the exhibits have visited 38 states. In 2006, a book of the portraits based on the exhibits won the top award of the International Reading Association for Intermediate non-fiction.
There are now over 275 portraits in the collection, and you can see them online. Shetterly keeps adding to the collection. The portraits have given Shetterly an opportunity to speak with children and adults all over the country about the necessity of dissent in a democracy, the obligations of citizenship, sustainability, US history, and how democracy cannot function if politicians don’t tell the truth, if the media don’t report it, and if the people don’t demand it.
It’s an incredible collection of paintings, each with a quote and biography – Harriet Tubman, Walt Whitman, Naomi Kline, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, Mohammed Ali, Rachel Carson, Mother Jones, Sojourner Truth, Edward Snowden, Alice Walker, Lily Yeh … many you would know, but many you probably have never heard before.
Shetterly himself said, when the collection only contained 180 portraits, that half of them were people who he had never heard of before. What continues to amaze me about this exhibit – is the persistence of the subjects – despite probably being vilified by peers, or those in power … they continued to speak their truth even though for many of them it seemed like no one was listening. No one understood. All seemed lost.
I would love to hear from you about hope in these times. We will continue this conversation on Sunday when we have a look at Hannah’s Song from the book of Samuel. A song of hope that was actually the song that Mary sang which we know as The Magnificat.
Where are you finding hope these days? Even if it is a microdose …