Showing Up

 

            In this time of chaos in our country, what stories do we tell ourselves and how do we show up? Are we doing a decent  job of communicating our origin stories, the ones that teach us how to behave in challenging situations? Of modeling how to be engaged in civil, civic society? Or are we floundering? Holding back hoping someone else will step forward? Giving up? I’ve been doing a great deal of puttering in the garden and greenhouse this year (and it looks quite nice, if I do say so myself) while contemplating these questions.

            Mark’s origin story is the Bible, as read by southern Methodists. He grew up with the stories; he wanted, deeply, to save the world. He wrestled with how to be a good Christian while also believing in evolution and evolution won. And, although I was raised as a working class Irish Catholic, those stories did not stick in my mind, although the rituals remained. My origin story comes from my roots in New England, in Boston. It started with Johnny Tremain, which led to the Freedom Trail, a masters degree focused on 18^th century New England, and a deep understanding of the economic drivers of revolutions. Along the way, I learned about Mother Jones, The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, and the Suffragettes.

            We are in a time where we are clearly struggling to articulate clear solutions. Maybe it is the overwhelming barrage of changes coming from the federal government, changes announced on social media that shift every few hours.  Maybe it is because the problems feel so massive and so interconnected: climate change, inequality, immigration, racism, isolation and addiction. Maybe we believe that if we just wait it out, things will get better. Maybe we are waiting for someone else to step up and do the hard work so we don’t have to. Or, maybe, we just don’t know where to start.

            So I look back.  Maybe you have your own origin story to consider, but mine is the history of our country. And this is what I know:

            People in power will try to divide us, usually along racial lines. While they hoover up the entire cake, they start arguments about who should get the crumbs left behind. Follow the money.  Call it out, clearly and loudly.

            There is power in  unions. Labor unions brought us the weekend, the end of child labor, and the 40 hour work week. There are also two types of unions—the official union, which negotiates contracts and wages and the unofficial union, which supports its people in times of stress. Even though there are two official unions in public schools—classified and certified—we are stronger when we work together and show up for one another with time, love, and cookies.

            We have to share the hard work. It’s fun to show up and wave signs, to plant trees, or to watch and discuss a movie. But, behind those fun actions, there are hours and hours of work that is not so fun. There are chairs to move and bike racks to haul. There are press releases, and planning meetings, and permits to fill out, and task forces to build consensus on the message. There is maintenance of buildings, gardens, organizations, clubs, people…. There are bills to follow, lobby for, and support.  Someone has to do all of this work, usually on top of everything else in their lives and we will go further if we all share to load. Free labor is the only way we will move forward.

            Persist. The world is run by those who show up. Show up for the hard, boring stuff.  Over and over and over and over and over.

            Finally, Question Authority.  Vote. People have died for your right to do so. Do not throw their lives away.

And maybe we should turn back to our founding documents: :”And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”