It’s impossible to witness the firings of lifetime civil servants and the defunding of humanitarian agencies without despair and anger. Each day’s news delivers yet another hammer blow to my sense of right and wrong. A recent speaker, a pacifist Quaker, immersed us in her anger about the oppression and genocide in the Middle East. I came away nauseous and disoriented. Our local town is being invaded by ICE agents, looking for undocumented workers, while our local public school endeavors to reassure their students that all will be okay. Our community’s DEIB manager (yes, they are still here) recently assured us that plans have been made to protect our employees should there be need. (Note: we do not hire undocumented workers, but there are some in the nearby town who may be family members…). What has this world come to?

How can I and my friends survive during this sad, wretched time? Tempers are short; depression is high; it’s hard to find pleasure, impossible to ignore the fear which surrounds us.

Resistance is one answer. Carloads of citizens recently participated in local protests. More protests are scheduled; there will probably be years of them. Letter-writing campaigns are happening; our leaders are finding out that inhumanity, broken promises and incompetence are not acceptable. Experts on the global situation are writing and speaking to help us understand and mobilize in solidarity with international efforts to end the war and genocide. Our church and religious communities have self-designated their facilities as “sanctuaries” where every individual is entitled to respect. By working together, we can be heard. Our minister recently quoted Maya Angelou:

When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear.

We can resist and create a world where all of humanity can live without crippling fear. But it will take strength and patience…and time. To sustain us, we must keep our values strong. It will take intention and planning, as the constant onslaught of behavior antithetical to our values is disempowering and disorienting.

Remaining strong in the face of these value attacks will require us to intentionally reflect on our own values. What are you values? How can you restore your emotional control to YOUR values rather than to the values we are hearing reported on the news each night?  Our personal core values explain our behavior and shape our emotions.  For example, if we value nature, a hike in the woods may create joy. Similarly with compassion; if being compassionate is important for you, volunteering at a hospital may give you joy. Doing the work of our values will give us pleasure.

To experience joy is to remember that life is not the world of just this minute, but of our entire lives.  We are connected to more than our government; we are connected to all things. There is something awesome, inspiring and calming about listening to bird song or wind in the trees. The very existence of us imperfect humans is miraculous. Optimism and hope are essential human qualities, but they must be nurtured and sustained.

It’s hard to break away from the incessant drum of anger and war, but we simply must pause the news and the justifiable fear. Only then can we feel the greater universe and its joy. Our leaders have taught us these lessons for eons. In this time of despair and anger, please ponder one or more of these quotes. Then, take a deep breathe and resist.

“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)

“My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy.” (James 1:2 )

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” Khalil Gibran

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” Thich Nhat Hanh.

“I’m really exciting. I smile a lot, I win a lot, and I’m really sexy.” Serena Williams