With ‘tip of the iceberg’ news headlines just in the last few days such as the university admissions scandal highlighting systemic inequities underneath, with the completion of the Mueller investigation capping the shockingly pervasive corruption overloading our efforts to grasp and understand, with the harrowing Mozambique cyclone devastating yet another vulnerable population, . . . – how can firm footing be (re)set? I most often return to two core/centering resolves.
First, as prompted by the affluent author of Ecclesiastes, I return to the resolve to face my affluence, to keep my mind’s eye open indiscriminately to the full range of human experiences, to resist the easy opportunities to look away that are within reach for those who are healthy and socio-economically advantaged. I agree that to do otherwise results in a shallow, inauthentic, haunted existence. The more difficult alternative -- to stand with those who sacrificially contest inequalities by living an answer to such questions as -- Should those more advantaged give disproportionate attention to those less advantaged? Can complacency (or resignation) about inequalities be overcome? Should the interests, rights, and/or liberties of a few to whom resources flow freely override the interests, rights, and/or liberties of the many to whom meager resources flow? How far beyond those immediately affected should consequences be tracked in assessing the fairness of a decision?
Second, as prompted by the last paragraph of Bonhoeffer’s December 1942 After Ten Years reflections he shared with his family and with his fellow Abwehr conspirators who had all been courageously resisting Hitler and the Nazis for a decade, I return to the resolve to confront the ironic but serious risk of being damaged/victimized by daring to be near enough long enough to resist the current divisive, destructive, demeaning darkness enveloping our country and the international community. As Bonhoeffer framed the question – “Are we still useful?” He explained the question this way (my translation) --
“We have become silent witnesses of evil actions. We have been drenched by many storms. We have learned the art of disguise (counterfeiting) and ambiguous speech. We have through experience become suspicious of people and remain often culpable (at fault) regarding truthfulness and free speech. We have been mellowed (made brittle) or perhaps even become cynical through intolerable conflicts. To be useful, what we need to be is unpretentious (without artificiality), modest, straightforward individuals – not geniuses, cynics, despisers of humanity, cunning (clever) tacticians. Will our strength to stand against being unnaturally shaped be strong enough and will our genuineness (sincerity, honesty) with ourselves remain relentless enough that we can find our way back again to simplicity and straightforwardness?”
Firm footing is key for living meaningfully in these turbulent times.