CBH Blog

I remember the morning after I had learned some of the most personally upsetting and disturbing news of my life. I sat there in the dark early hours of the morning feeling betrayed, foolish and perplexed. My footing had been pulled from beneath me and I could not make sense of what had happened. I had no certain grasp of reality or a predictable future. I sat at the kitchen table just breathing. It was then in the silence of everything I heard a few morning birds sing. I listened to their sweet song instinctively. But when I understood what I was doing, amidst my tears, a smile naturally emerged on my face. In recognizing the beauty of the world, despite being shellshocked; I had the deepest sense that I would be fine—at least at some distant point. And until I had a clearer plan, I needed to be gentle and to search for the uncomplicated truths that I could count on.

I have a piece of art that contains the quote, “Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.” This used to hang on the door into my office as I wanted people who entered to know that whatever they were carrying, they were worthy and that despite whatever storm raged within or around them that they could cultivate peace.  

Both of these things feel very important because the grief and the fear we feel has the capacity to erode our sense of hope. Yet we have some simple profound truths. We can grieve and still kindle hope. The egregious nature of the assaults of decency, equality, justice and goodness are astounding, as are the anger, the bigotry and the dehumanization. We should be aware, vigilant even, but despair impacts our ability to rebound. Returning to simple truths is a place to start.

As members of CBH, and beyond, we are designed for resilience and repair. It has been our work for decades. We have been adapting, transforming, learning, praying and representing during times in the past that resemble this one. We are indeed powerful and have the potential to be masterful. We know the interior of courage with integrity. It is how we were founded. Our latest addition to our resources is a more profound spiritual practice. We have been digging and preparing a deep well.

And we are not alone as a community, what was once a highly honed sense of gaydar has become the skill of identifying safe harbor in others. We too, signal to many that we are indeed a place of welcome and sanctuary. Our years of confronting the indignities of our country, our state and for some even our families, have prepared us to lead in a time like this. And by lead, I mean to be courageous in our truths and values. I mean to be courageous in moving out of our silos and seeing the soul of another—even when they cannot yet see ours. I mean courageous in our outrage and our compassion.

As Jews, like so many other faith and ethnic groups (though we have our own signature) we have rich traditions of deep pessimism and worry, as well as an indomitable spirit of survival and hope in the darkest times. Let us not focus on every ill and possible dark scenario from this election. It will only sink us like a weight, nor should we set our sights on unrealistic aims. The course has narrowed but it is clearer. The world needs faith communities like ours. If you have been sheltered by the resistance and ridicule we have faced at CBH, then you might not know our ability to rise above it—but our legacy is that we have and we will. This is true of all communities doing justice and equality work. My journey has been studded with diamonds of folks whose brilliance has reflected back my own. We must gather because we will not encounter them if we hide only in our silo or our sanctuary. We move back and forth from the well of spirit as we need our own nourishment. We are the holders of the prayer of the end of hiding.

The immensity of what this election has meant looms so large that it is no wonder that we feel overwhelmed or paralyzed.  Rabbi Tarfon taught that we are not required to do the work of perfecting the world, but neither are we free to desist from it. In other words, we cannot let overwhelm or apathy prevent us from discerning our part of the important work of the world. We can figure this out together. It is also true that cultivating our own resilient spirit is an essential part of doing this well.  As a collective, the small and large parts that we are endowed to do or the areas where we are deeply called will expand and grow. To be in it, and not on the sidelines is more powerful than we can know.

I don’t know what solutions look like in total. The idea of a messianic world complete is more of a sacred myth that inspires. Rather, I do know that human beings taking on small redemptive acts are the boots on the ground salvation that is needed and that comforts. To be courageous and to do this work requires a deeper level of vulnerability and spirit always. And I have seen your genuine beauty and I know the world needs your engaged soul work. We are rugged and gentle, we are firm and compassionate and we are committed and adaptable. And when we are tired, we have the blessings of community to tag someone in as we take a rest.

I have tasted despair and fear but I know it does not nourish me. At times, it is indulgent and other times it is like a disease. What is nourishing and what sustains is the embrace and the encouragement of others. We are not alone in this.  We have a purpose; we have a soul curriculum; we have a dream. Underneath my feet is the bedrock of the goodness of humanity. Above me is the canopy of sky. They remind me of how good it is to be alive and help me dedicate my life to freedom and peace. I know you too, have your bedrock and your canopy.

It is with great care and much love that I see our feet firmly planted on bedrock graced with a canopy of peace above us.  We have a calling and in the face of disregard, we persevere. It is who we are. We need one another and that is our blessing—it always has been and it will remain. That too, is bedrock. Remember: “Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.”