THE LAST RIVER MILE

I remember watching in horror, in real time, as the United States Capital Building was attacked five years ago today. I am as opposed now to all which that assault represents as I was on January 1st, 2021.

I actually oppose much, to be honest. I opposed faith which judges and dismisses more than it offers grace. I oppose theocracy; the forcing of a religious viewpoint on others. I oppose the idea of American exceptionalism, engendering pridefulness and entitlement rather than national responsibility. I oppose authoritarianism, which ignores the balance of power built into our country’s DNA. I oppose xenophobia, seeing all who are different than us as inferior, evil, and dangerous.

However, I do notice the number of times my opposition to these things is as caustic, divisive, and judgmental as I sometimes experience from those whom I oppose. I feel the toxicity of that in myself. I experience this so much that often I don’t want to gather with like minded people, just so we can complain about and deride those with whom we disagree. If all I am is a verbal critic, then I’m no better than those I criticize. If all I do is get mad again every January 6th, what good is that?

Yesterday I was struck by this operational statement from the Center for Action and Contemplation: “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.” Here is a perspective from Fr. Richard Rohr, who is a part of the CAC: “Just do better yourself and don’t waste any time criticizing others or the past!…Don’t bother being against anybody, anything, any group, or any institution. That will only keep you at a low level of ego, while falsely feeling superior…don’t waste time or energy being oppositional to anything. This world needs positive energy now over negative criticism of anything.” (Yes, And…Daily Meditations. Richard Rohr, 2013. p. 229.)

That’s a tall order for those of us who swim daily in divided, adversarial waters. Still, what would it be like to critique that which I oppose less by caustic words and more by concrete, positive action? What would that look like today, five years after 01.06.21?

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.

(For further information on the Center for Action and Contemplation, see cac.org. )