I Don’t Even Know Where to Begin

I don’t even know where to begin.
Or, how to name what I am feeling.

Writing off what has been said and done as just politics doesn’t work.
Won’t work.
The rhetoric ripped at the fabric of who we are or hope to be.
And added to the anger.
And to the hate.
And to the fear.
It has done its best
And succeeded
In setting you against me
And me against you.

Why is it always the most vulnerable who get hurt the most?
Those who have seen jobs disappear with only minimum wage jobs remaining.
Those who come to this country and do the work which those who came before won’t do because even those jobs are better than what they left behind.
Those who put their children to bed hungry.
Those who skin color does not match mine.
Those who look towards tomorrow with little or no hope.
Those whose sexual orientation is different than mine.
Those who feel something important has been lost as so much has changed.

Because of who I am
And the color of my skin
And the privilege I enjoy
I will be okay.
At least for the short term.
At least if I only worry about me.
And not about you.
But, that will only last for a little while
Because in the end
Like it or not
We are in this together.
We either figure it out or we lose it.

I often end the prayers I lead with these words.
Let our lives follow where our prayers first lead.
Today I pray the strength to put one foot in front of the other.
Today I pray for those who woke up this morning afraid.
Today I pray for those who walk through today with tears in their eyes.
Today I pray for those whose hopes last night were realized.
Today I pray for leadership.

Let my life follow where my prayers first lead.