That is the message of joy that has radiated through the African American church for generations. Can it inspire those struggling financially as well? Musing below, but first the usual message from our sponsor:
Today’s Musing: Hallelujah Anyway
Last week, as we wallowed in the travesty of sham hearings and non-investigations and Senate votes, I was concluding a ten day online course from Sounds True called Waking Up In the World. The annual mindfulness event was designed to “heal our hearts, cultivate courage, and inspire action” in these difficult times. Unlike past annual “summits,” there were a lot fewer actual meditation sessions. This year, the emphasis was on bringing our compassionately-raised consciousness to real world problems. Most presenters layered the political onto the participant’s assumed mindfulness training — especially how to recognize those moments when our words or actions can make a difference, how to organize action using compassion as a model and how to tend our own hearts in these troubled times to avoid becoming discouraged or angry.
I found Van Jones, CNN commentator and political activist, one of the most arresting speakers. His message is to bring a radical kind of love to thwart the entrenched tribalism of our current political conversation. This man comes with extensive radical left bona fides. Yet, he wants liberals to stop answering hate with hate. He suggests that we begin with ourselves. Can the mistakes and messiness of our own lives be a point of common ground with “the other side?” Can we offer mercy and kindness instead of anger and vengeance in the face of hateful rhetoric or even hateful deeds? And what if those deeds are directed expressly at ourselves? For answers, Jones looks to his experience in the traditional black church:
The centrality of the black church as an institution that was created during our enslavement and has persisted is, I think, hard for people to understand. And then there's the particular kind of theology that is native to the black church, what I call hallelujah-anyhow theology: Even if we lost our job, even if we're living in a housing project, even if we're poor, even if our father's in prison—hallelujah anyhow. The search for a kind of joy—not happiness—and the preservation of dignity and the connection to something sacred no matter how terrible the external circumstances, that hallelujah-anyhow bedrock faith is something that is also misunderstood by people who don't have to do it and don't have to rely on that in their journey in the same way.
HelpingHumpday doesn’t usually get overtly political (we leave that to the rest of DKOS). However, some of Jones’ ideas were so inspiring to this pacifist, I wanted to share them here at Street Prophets. One primary message was that in order to heal our nation even as we hold to our progressive values, we have to recognize two things. 1) We make a mistake when we liberals equate a bad vote with being a bad person, or a vote for a bigot with being a bigot. Jones feels that what these traditional Republican voters were saying was, “I actually don’t hate all those folks, but I don’t care enough about them to change my vote.” 2) Our message has to be one of love and justice for all — even conservative white men, even wealthy white men — it has to say to those resisting the oncoming train of massive social change, “in our vision of a perfect society there is a place of dignity for you, too.” Here is a link to an interview with Jones that discusses many of the same topics he explored in his presentation at the summit psmag.com/…
Jones admits his own philosophical journey (and his career path) as an agent for radical social change has been “messy” with bumps and bruises. Always the raconteur, he ended his presentation with this quip: if you can’t remain calm in the messiest of situations, even in the face of hateful deeds done to you, sue your yoga teacher. : )
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But I want to return to the concept of “hallelujah anyway.” So how do we find this joy — this ability to look at our own situation even in dark times and remain positive? Jones asks us to go inward and learn to find calm. When dogs and fire hoses where set upon Civil Rights marchers, they remained calm. And said “hallelujah.” But I wondered if “hallelujah anyway” had something to offer those in dire financial straits? In the face of personal calamities, Jones admonishes us to not give away our power to experience of express joy. Happiness is the result of our situation and is fleeting. Joy comes from within. He acknowledges that the capacity for joy in the black church was often rooted in support from community and family. We know that if one isn’t part of a traditional community one must build one for oneself. It can be an act of defiance to ask for the help one needs. It can be an act of defiance to help lift someone up. Is that enough to create joy? I’m not sure. But it certainly cannot make things worse.
So, what makes you shout “hallelujah anyway” and motivates you to compassion in your politics and kindness toward your fellow travelers?
Full Community Needs List
Community needs list as of 10/5/18. Fundraisers: please kosmail updates, corrections or requests to njm5000 by Thursday evening.
Housing Fundraisers
JAN4INSIGHT needs $800 580 by Oct. 11 for this month's house payment PayPal friends & family: burchjan at gmail dot com. Diary is here As much as I hate to do this and purchases from her Zibbet shop will also help: https://www.zibbet.com/... Another way to contribute is through Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/janforinsight or https://ko-fi.com/...
LIBRARYGUY needs to raise $2,850 2360 remaining on the deposit by October 14th in order to get lease renewed and stay in their home, which is also the site of their new shop. The diary explaining it all is here. The fundraiser is here. Purchases from their online shop also help. Find it here Woodstock Reveries
LUCY MONTROSE has a joint fundraising diary I Need a Little Help. Note that Orlaine’s need has been MET. But Lucy herself still needs at least $300± (awaiting an update) by the 10th of October for past due bills. PayPal is lucymontrose at paypal dot com OR lucymontrose at gmail dot com.
MUFFTOOTUFF has just put up a fundraising appeal and needs some immediate help of $1500 980. PayPal is: paypal.me/MMeriwether. Diary is here — One Last Time - Really!
JTG—Still looking to fund the $300 240± (awaiting an update) fee for the Multi-subject California Subject Examinations for Teachers” aka “CSET”. GoFundMe, PayPal (James at JamesThomasGreen dot com) Diary with other ways to help via amazon wishlist and Patreon www.dailykos.com/...
Medical Fundraisers
SWAMPYANKEE — Still needs about $2000 654 to pay the nursing home ASAP. Diary is here: Need Help, Halfway There. PayPal is jennifercirino at sbcglobal dot net.
RICKNELSONMN — He had a partial knee replacement last year but unexpected complications require total knee replacement urgently.Needs $2,000 1190 to cover expenses and bills while recuperating after surgery. (GoFundMe, diary explaining his situation)
PAMLAPIER — She needs help with an emergency vet bill for her cat Smokey. After three months unemployed, she is still working on paying back rent. Needs at least $1500 $935 ASAP for the tests performed and upcoming vet visits. Help for Smokey.
A modest donation of $10 or even $5 or $3 not only helps financially, it gives our fellow Kossacks an emotional lift. I know because they tell us so. It means they feel worthwhile, they feel less hopeless, they feel they matter. They feel visible. In short, they feel that they belong to this caring community no matter what their circumstances. Please consider sending a small amount to someone on the list. Just pick one person and donate You will feel great and they will be so grateful. : )
Please share this diary to as many groups as you think is appropriate. There are more ways to help and other musings below the fold. Thanks!