Dear George,

You have asked a question that countless people are asking at this difficult moment in American history.  It can be difficult to know what to do or whether doing anything at all really matters.

There is a lot of advice out there for progressives to take care of themselves and not let anyone “steal our joy.”  I appreciate the need to stay healthy and to find happiness in the midst of this chaos, but I don’t think this is an either/or decision.  Self-care is important, so long as it is not an excuse to withdraw from the world since our mandate is to engage it.

There will come a time when you know when some kind of nonviolent resistance is called for, some way to be in “noncompliance” with the forces that seek to destroy our democracy and punish the poor for being poor.  You may want to stand in protest when ICE comes to arrest and deport your neighbor.  You may want to decide what products you will boycott based on company allegiance and behaviors.  You may want to find a community of like-minded souls to plan some kind of local action in your community because there is strength in numbers.

You will need a spiritual practice and a space to calm your mind and feed your soul—not so that you can withdraw from this moment—but so that you can more fully engage it.

My one piece of advice for those who are searching for a way to take some kind of action is to remember that protest marches do NOT bother those in power.  They know that people need to “blow off steam” and say, “Hurrah for our side!”  But then everyone goes home, and it’s back to business as usual.  What frightens the powerful are direct challenges to their power, especially organized resistance to the things that made them rich and powerful to begin with.  Marches are tolerated and even turned into political theater to discredit those who participate.  But boycotts scare the status quo to death.

Recording scenes of ICE officials entering churches or schools to arrest immigrants can make a powerful visual statement.  Don’t forget to find time to talk across differences and seek common solutions to common problems whenever possible.  And remember that hand-written letters to local and national leaders really do have an impact.  It is not your job to save the world.  But it’s everyone’s job to heal some small corner of it.  Good luck and peace be with you.

~ Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers