There is a lot going on right now, isn’t there? I don’t have to list it all. You know. You probably feel it deep inside you, like I do. Things feel, in an understatement, overwhelming. I’ve been struggling for months now to figure out what I can do during this time when all my actions feel too small. I know I’m not alone in thinking this.
So, while a lot of things feel out of control right now, there are some small things I can control.
First, I am not giving up hope. When I see things happening in the world that feel scary or unjust, I believe that change is possible. I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I look for ways to be a part of that change, like joining and volunteering with organizations I care about or donating money to causes that I think are important.
I look to history to give me some hope. I think of causes like the Civil Rights Movement that were not overnight successes carried on the backs of one or two heroes. Rather, they were community efforts. They took time. They took people standing up for the right thing. And each person’s involvement mattered. It wasn’t too small. Through that community effort, people also saw they were not alone. Across history, fights for democracy and justice were never quick or easy, but history shows us, they are always worth fighting.
I also want to lead with love. When I talk about current events with my children, I want to be an example for them that we can think critically about topics without tearing others down. We can be unwavering in what we believe is right without attacking others’ dignity or worth. We can be calm in the face of hysterics or fear-mongering. When writing about how to “rise to the level of disagreement rather than simply denouncing one another,” Timothy Keller wrote that each side has to learn to “represent the other’s argument in its strongest and most positive form. Only then is it safe and fair to disagree with it. That achieves civility in a pluralistic society, which is no small thing.”
Finally, I want to turn my focus inward and be more present with my family. I want to put my phone down (better yet, turn it off!) for long stretches, because it’s good for everyone in my family. We don’t need to be so connected to the 24-hour news cycle. I want to do life-giving things instead, like going for walks, playing games, or talking around the table. I want to do things I can control, like baking cookies with my kids (okay, sometimes I can’t control that, but at least I try). I want to read aloud stories together. I want us to color on boxes, pretend, and laugh together. I want to say “I love you” to each other with our words, our actions, and our time. I can control what gets my energy and time. And my family will always be most important. And spending time with my kids will always give me more hope.
If you feel overwhelmed by everything going on, I hope you know, you are not alone. Even small actions and words can have a rippling effect, especially those done in love. Dr. King also famously said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” I plan to do that, and I hope you do, too.
