Recently a group of congregation members gathered in person and online to talk about how we’re feeling about current political events, and to begin exploring ways to move forward. It was a meaningful time of honest, vulnerable sharing – and laughter, too.
As we talked, we noted that the most important thing is taking care of oneself first, otherwise we risk getting stuck in the negativity.
The resources below begin with ways you can care for yourself and your loved ones. These lists are by no means comprehensive. They’re simply a place to start.
Caring for yourself, your family, and your friends:
- Check in with your people frequently – especially if you or they are in a vulnerable group (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S, immigrant, etc.).
- Form your own small group (e.g. – email, group chat).
- Get some daylight and fresh air every day. Open the blinds/curtains. If you can’t go outside, open a window in your home for 5-10 minutes.
- Go for a walk or do a workout.
- Keep your nutrition in check (i.e. – eat your fruits and veggies J).
- Pay attention to the news while limiting the amount of time you spend with it. For example, 15-30 minutes in the morning or evening.
- Limit the amount of time you spend on social media.
- Call the 988 Lifeline or mental healthcare programs available through your insurance.
Spiritual Care Resources:
- Presiding Bishop Eaton’s statements
- Region 1 Bishops’ statement on immigration
- The ELCA Social Statements (https://www.elca.org/faith/faith-and-society/social-statements)
- In the Bible:
- The Psalms
- The Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-Resurrection cycle in each Gospel
- “Learning Love: Lent with bell hooks” – a 6-week Zoom course by the LiVE Project that begins on March 6 (this is free to SALC members)
Suggested Readings:
- Learning to Walk in the Dark – Barbara Brown Taylor
- The Cure for Sorrow – Jan Richardson
- This Here Flesh – Cole Arthur Riley
- Black Liturgies – Cole Arthur Riley
- The Lives We Actually Have – Kate Bowler
- Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day – Kate Bowler
- A Rhythm of Prayer – Sarah Bessey, ed.
- The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – JRR Tolkein
- A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
- The Harry Potter series
- Writings by Brené Brown
Podcasts/Audio:
- Everything Happens – Kate Bowler
- Movement Memos – Kelly Hayes
- Center for Action and Contemplation
- TED Talks – they’re all positive!
- Meditation apps such as Aura and Calm
- Listen to classical music
Get Involved/Take action:
- Limit yourself to the one or two causes you care most about. Share that information widely, but don’t try to get involved with everything. It doesn’t mean you don’t care about the rest, but you can’t do it all.
- Take small, manageable steps in the causes you care about. As Beth Donohoe puts it: these are the small but meaningful actions you can take to help resist and also keep your soul from being crushed.
- Feb 12: Region One Online Forum on Immigration (registration link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/azM5gsIyTZm79SjOnaVgbw#/registration)
- Frequently call your members of Congress at both their national and local offices about the 1 or 2 issues you’re most concerned about. If you’re not sure what to say, there are scripts available to guide you. Also let them know when you appreciate the work they’ve done.
- ACLU
- ELCA Advocacy Network (sign up for alerts at elca.org)
- Faith Action Network (https://fanwa.org/)
- Lutheran Community Services NW (https://lcsnw.org/)
- Get to know our neighbors at the Islamic Center of the Eastside and Temple B’Nai Torah
- Ask our other local and global ministry partners how you can best support them.