My adult daughter told me this morning that she is terrified and it broke my heart. I'm going to take the advice of Scripture and be slow to speak and slow to become angry, and I'm going to do my best to love, even in the midst of my profound disappointment in so many of my fellow believers. I have to believe that God has a purpose in this, even though I fail to see it. Perhaps it's to expose those whose kingdom hopes reside in earthly power rather than humility and faith in the Kingdom of God.
My God! You're not irrelevant!! Yours has been a voice of sanity, insight, and faith that has upheld me and many over the past few years. Keep on keeping on. Love, care, speak, share. In the long run, we know how the story turns out.
I should have been clearer on that. I felt like there was no need to provide the historical analysis to show people the danger when he was shouting it from the rooftops in the closing weeks of the campaign. Redundant is perhaps a better word. I don’t think my work over the past years has been irrelevant. Truth is never irrelevant.
Thank you. 🫶 My life has been hard not knowing what was coming, or how bad it would be. I've had a taste of what's coming, and as a woman who is now a disabled widow (aka a childless cat lady), I know I have no value and no worth in the eyes of the incoming administration and a good chunk of their supporters. I'm dead weight. Going from a married woman who was healthy and working, comfortably middle class to this has been eye opening. Still, I thought more people would listen to the danger, or at least consider it. How wrong I was. I'm so tired, life has been hard and it's only going to get harder for those of us with little power and usefulness to the MAGA wave. There are others more vulnerable than me, and I am so afraid for them. Where are we safe now?
I appreciate David French’s word while on The NY Times Opinion podcast last night. I am paraphrasing, we are to protect the vulnerable and speak the truth.
I'm about to get ready for work at my LCMS school. So grateful for your post, as I was not sure how I was going to do this today--or at the Bible Study later in the week.
I believe this is not a blessing but judgement, and it's terrible to see in real time.
I keep saying “I just don’t get it” when I’ve read enough from you and Sam Perry, Andrew Whitehead, Kaitlyn Schiess, Beth Moore, Steve Bezner, and many others so I do “get it” - I just do t want to believe it. “And the crowd chose Barabbas” again and again.
You have done more than your share and the majority of the populace wanted the 'worse'. So sad all will have to suffer. Thank you for you! Love from Toronto.
I haven’t stepped inside a church since Covid and now still don’t have plans to. I can’t bring myself to be around the people who supported someone, in mass, with such blatant character defects, and such an antithesis to the Jesus way. This saddens me tremendously but the body of Christ brought this horrible acting human into power once again. I am feeling such loss and despair regarding the way the sheep have been led astray. I still put my hope in Jesus. It’s the only thing I have right now
Thank you Kristen Du Mez. You’ve given voice to all I think and feel. I’m praying for you and others who lead more publicly than myself. That authentic believers would live out their faith with courage during this dark time. It’s hard to love others who have been led to believe lies. I have so much emotion about it. I need to be clear headed and continue to find strength to love others, especially our enemies.
You're surely not irrelevant Kristin. You've likely been more of a pastor for "least of these" folks than anyone they see locally. But sometimes our efforts are just not enough. :( I'm anxious to hear from you all in South Bend next mo. There will be a lot of work to do.
I got up and made vegan brownies to add to the vegan pumpkin bread for my students, faculty, and staff. I remember the mood of of 2016 and how our space was so necessary for those who feel like they have been cast aside. And in the words of my sister this morning "this is an opportunity to be kinder, practice grace, and be more compassionate. I am off to do my best to raise two boys to believe women are amazing and choose love and kindness"
Kristin, the work you, your Convocation colleagues and so many others have been doing still gives me hope in this terrible time.
William Stafford’s words from his poem “A Ritual to Read to Each Other” help me, too:
“Following the wrong god home we may miss our star…it is important that awake people be awake…the signals we give - yes or no, or maybe - should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.”
Especially now that it's the second time, with all we know of him and all he so proudly represents, all the hot takes on messaging and the economy and Israel-Palestine and a woman candidate and whether those things might have meant 52%-48% might have instead been 48%-52% feel ALMOST like noise over the raw truth that half the (voting) population, not a few hundred thousand here or there, HALF look at Trump and think he's the kind of person they want to be leading the country. Even in a broken 2-party system, the fact that he could cross those imaginary "red lines" time after time and none of it register as a problem with so many millions: just exposes a deep moral sickness in America.
Your work is more needed than ever in a new era with a new landscape. Looking forward to tomorrow’s meeting. I’m also listening to the perspectives of David Brooks and others on the appeal of populism to the working class, and how the inability of those of us with an education and financial stability to more clearly see the pain of those who are more directly exposed to the effects of inflation and other economic forces has contributed to the problem.
So many living in fear this morning. Thanks for sharing these thoughts Kristin. My wife and I needed to hear these and I was reminded of my own sermon this past Sunday when I reminded my people that no matter who won, God would still be on the throne and we could continue to do the good works for which He has created us.
My adult daughter told me this morning that she is terrified and it broke my heart. I'm going to take the advice of Scripture and be slow to speak and slow to become angry, and I'm going to do my best to love, even in the midst of my profound disappointment in so many of my fellow believers. I have to believe that God has a purpose in this, even though I fail to see it. Perhaps it's to expose those whose kingdom hopes reside in earthly power rather than humility and faith in the Kingdom of God.
My God! You're not irrelevant!! Yours has been a voice of sanity, insight, and faith that has upheld me and many over the past few years. Keep on keeping on. Love, care, speak, share. In the long run, we know how the story turns out.
I should have been clearer on that. I felt like there was no need to provide the historical analysis to show people the danger when he was shouting it from the rooftops in the closing weeks of the campaign. Redundant is perhaps a better word. I don’t think my work over the past years has been irrelevant. Truth is never irrelevant.
Thank you. 🫶 My life has been hard not knowing what was coming, or how bad it would be. I've had a taste of what's coming, and as a woman who is now a disabled widow (aka a childless cat lady), I know I have no value and no worth in the eyes of the incoming administration and a good chunk of their supporters. I'm dead weight. Going from a married woman who was healthy and working, comfortably middle class to this has been eye opening. Still, I thought more people would listen to the danger, or at least consider it. How wrong I was. I'm so tired, life has been hard and it's only going to get harder for those of us with little power and usefulness to the MAGA wave. There are others more vulnerable than me, and I am so afraid for them. Where are we safe now?
I’m so sorry.
I appreciate David French’s word while on The NY Times Opinion podcast last night. I am paraphrasing, we are to protect the vulnerable and speak the truth.
So many voted against their own interests, morals, beliefs and faith then say, "God is in control".
I'm about to get ready for work at my LCMS school. So grateful for your post, as I was not sure how I was going to do this today--or at the Bible Study later in the week.
I believe this is not a blessing but judgement, and it's terrible to see in real time.
I keep saying “I just don’t get it” when I’ve read enough from you and Sam Perry, Andrew Whitehead, Kaitlyn Schiess, Beth Moore, Steve Bezner, and many others so I do “get it” - I just do t want to believe it. “And the crowd chose Barabbas” again and again.
Just downloaded “On Tyranny” - Thank you.
I feel the same.
You have done more than your share and the majority of the populace wanted the 'worse'. So sad all will have to suffer. Thank you for you! Love from Toronto.
I haven’t stepped inside a church since Covid and now still don’t have plans to. I can’t bring myself to be around the people who supported someone, in mass, with such blatant character defects, and such an antithesis to the Jesus way. This saddens me tremendously but the body of Christ brought this horrible acting human into power once again. I am feeling such loss and despair regarding the way the sheep have been led astray. I still put my hope in Jesus. It’s the only thing I have right now
Thank you Kristen Du Mez. You’ve given voice to all I think and feel. I’m praying for you and others who lead more publicly than myself. That authentic believers would live out their faith with courage during this dark time. It’s hard to love others who have been led to believe lies. I have so much emotion about it. I need to be clear headed and continue to find strength to love others, especially our enemies.
You're surely not irrelevant Kristin. You've likely been more of a pastor for "least of these" folks than anyone they see locally. But sometimes our efforts are just not enough. :( I'm anxious to hear from you all in South Bend next mo. There will be a lot of work to do.
I edited that to superfluous, which more adequately coveys what I was trying to get at.
Glad you’ll be there.
Is the South Bend event public? If so, could you please point me in the right direction for more information? Thank you!
I got up and made vegan brownies to add to the vegan pumpkin bread for my students, faculty, and staff. I remember the mood of of 2016 and how our space was so necessary for those who feel like they have been cast aside. And in the words of my sister this morning "this is an opportunity to be kinder, practice grace, and be more compassionate. I am off to do my best to raise two boys to believe women are amazing and choose love and kindness"
Kristin, the work you, your Convocation colleagues and so many others have been doing still gives me hope in this terrible time.
William Stafford’s words from his poem “A Ritual to Read to Each Other” help me, too:
“Following the wrong god home we may miss our star…it is important that awake people be awake…the signals we give - yes or no, or maybe - should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.”
Especially now that it's the second time, with all we know of him and all he so proudly represents, all the hot takes on messaging and the economy and Israel-Palestine and a woman candidate and whether those things might have meant 52%-48% might have instead been 48%-52% feel ALMOST like noise over the raw truth that half the (voting) population, not a few hundred thousand here or there, HALF look at Trump and think he's the kind of person they want to be leading the country. Even in a broken 2-party system, the fact that he could cross those imaginary "red lines" time after time and none of it register as a problem with so many millions: just exposes a deep moral sickness in America.
On reflection, in terms of support this isn't the second time. This is the THIRD consecutive affirmation of Trump by about half of voters... 😞
Your work is more needed than ever in a new era with a new landscape. Looking forward to tomorrow’s meeting. I’m also listening to the perspectives of David Brooks and others on the appeal of populism to the working class, and how the inability of those of us with an education and financial stability to more clearly see the pain of those who are more directly exposed to the effects of inflation and other economic forces has contributed to the problem.
So many living in fear this morning. Thanks for sharing these thoughts Kristin. My wife and I needed to hear these and I was reminded of my own sermon this past Sunday when I reminded my people that no matter who won, God would still be on the throne and we could continue to do the good works for which He has created us.