My silence since November 5 has been deliberate. I haven’t known what to say after such a stunning defeat.
I have a confession: I did unload on an Episcopal bishop whose reaction to the election was “Not everyone will be happy.” He didn’t like my rant about being a coward and giving Donald Trump a pass, like what the church did when Hitler was rising to power. He became defensive and went back to straightening the deck chairs on the ecclesiastical Titanic.
I feel like a broken record as I repeatedly ask myself, How could over half our country vote for this despicable man? Was it really about paying too much for a dozen eggs?
I have not watched television or read a newspaper since November 6. Unfortunately, I’ve accidentally stumbled on a Trump story while trying to find the weather or my emails. Each one reinforces my feeling that we’re in for a four-year circus with an unbelievable cast of clowns.
I have spoken with friends about living media-free since Election Day. They, too, are avoiding the media, but each of them mentioned the correlation between today and the rise of the Nazis and Hitler. Interesting!
However, none of this is helpful, and the last thing I want is to be fixated on Trump, which would then make him the master of my life.
What to do? My best answer: be patient!
On a daily basis, I play Words Trivia on my computer. I love to have my mind challenged. Half the time, it presents words I’ve never seen before, so I try to dissect the word and guess. I’m wrong 50 percent of the time.
November 13 was one of those days. The game gave me the question “What does ‘orenda’ mean?” It gave me four choices: (1) emotional stability, (2) mental clarity, (3) physical strength, or (4) spiritual power. Quickly, I ruled out physical strength, but spiritual power felt comfortable, even though I still had no idea what it meant.
The definition of orenda it gave was “a mystical force believed by some indigenous people to be present in all people and all things, which can empower individuals to affect change and influence their environment.” I immediately equated that with my explanation of the Holy Spirit. The article said that the word comes from the Iroquoian languages and “represents an innate energy that resides within all beings and elements of nature. This force is a source of strength and influence, enabling individuals to manifest their intentions and create meaningful change in their lives and surroundings.”
Voilà!
I believe every human being, religious or not, embodies orenda, and it is this concept that those of us who are dragging around a spirit of hopelessness and helplessness must turn to so we can start to feel an interconnectedness and responsibility toward all others and the environment.
No longer can we allow the MAGA movement to adversely affect our lives. We need to bring out the orenda in ourselves and work with others in a call to action: march, demonstrate, show up, go to court, protect vulnerable groups (LGBTQIA+, the undocumented, women, and doctors, for starters), demand separation of church and state, and do everything to protect our Constitution.
It won’t be easy, but orenda is positive, creative, and loving step forward.
PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness
Bil
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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.