If you’re anything like me, it gets harder and harder to figure out which day is which without the rhythm of pre-pandemic weekends and holidays.
Let me help. It is, in fact, Tuesday, at least where and when I’m writing this. And this is Wednesday’s blog post. It just couldn’t wait!
It started Monday evening as I was knitting prayer scarves and watching The West Wing. It was during the final season when Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Arnie Vinick (Alan Alda) are running for President. And, yes, I’ve watched it “a few” times before.
One of my favorite episodes is the Presidential debate. (Season 7, Episode 7) This time, though, I learned something new.
I am a Values Voter.
Not, as I suspect is obvious, in the sense that many talking heads often use that phrase.
Instead, in the sense that I vote based on what I believe. On what I have learned to value because of what I believe.
This is, admittedly, the bumper sticker version of a much longer story but it gets the job done. You may well know it, too.
A lawyer asked Jesus/Yeshua a question, according to Matthew 22:36 – 40. Here’s what happened:
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”
So, what will that mean for me when it comes to filling out my early, absentee ballot in Georgia?
It means that I value LGBTQ rights. I want real justice to extend to all our people, regardless of skin color or bank balances. I support access to legal, safe abortion care. I want universal healthcare in America. I want people to have enough food and to have it free from toxic chemicals. I want people to be able to live on “minimum wage”. And, I want us to care for our planet so that there is a world for my girls, and all our kids, to grow up in.
Oh, and while I’m at it, I want safe, accessible, secure voting options for all and universal voter registration. Along with an end to Citizens’ United and the Electoral College.
There’s more, but I suspect you can fill in the blanks.
With all of that rolling around in my head and my heart, I took on Monday.
My hip hurt worse. It felt like all the chess pieces on my mental board were shifting around, moving in directions I hadn’t planned for. (This part was not bad. It just took a fair amount of adjusting.)
A big, helpful meeting took up my afternoon, along with blessed progress from a dear friend and Etsy elf.
Fortunately Sunday had involved putting a whole bunch of mini meatloaves in the freezer and one in the fridge so dinner kind of took care of itself. You see, there was another big event to come.
The Moral Monday Mass Assembly and Teach – in
Yep, I watched. And I’m really sad that I can’t find a recorded copy of the event to share with you. I can tell you about how I experienced it.
I’ve been hugely inspired by Bishop William Barber since I first encountered him at the Sister Giant event in 2017. I might watch him sell used cars if he had time for such things. I try really hard to watch when he and the gang are living their values and helping the rest of us understand. This was such an event.
And, they invited some guests. Specifically, the two major party candidates for President. The photo at the top shows you who showed up. I’m so deeply glad he did.
The theme of the evening was Voting is power, unleashed.
Can I get an Amen?
We began with singing.
Somebody’s hurting our people and it’s gone on far too long… And we won’t be silent anymore.
Another Amen about now would work.
It was all totally worth being present for but the very best part, for me, was the soft-spoken, gray haired, white-bodied guy named Joe Biden.
I know. He’s not Bernie Sanders and I’m still sad about that. But he is, as I mentioned once before, quite possibly the person who was born for times such as this. (Thank you, Dr. Estes!)
Policy-wise, the best thing Joe said was that we’re going to build a new economy that includes everyone.
Character-wise, my favorite story had to do with Joe’s grandparents. His grandfather used to say to him, “Keep the faith, Joey.” And his grandmother would chime in with, “Spread the faith, Joey!”
The guy who will tell that story, and mean it deeply, in front of millions of people, despite a painful history of stuttering, gets my vote.
And speaking of voting, Dr. Barber said that there were 100 million eligible voters who did not vote in 2016. I’m not sure exactly how many zeros that is, but please, please, don’t be one of them this time.
ps… If you’re curious, here’s a Facebook link where you can learn more.
pss… Spread the faith!