Thank you. I have struggled with our flag because it’s misuse by maga. However, I still believe there are more believers, true Jesus Christians, than maga folks. God bless America!
I appreciate the piece and its sentiment. I am a playwright who has been focused on the role of grief in the present moment. Organizer Joe Hill famously said, "Don't mourn, organize," before his death. Perhaps for him personally. But what power does organizing have if it is not grounded in grief which is grounded in love--for what was, and what--in a new incarnation--could still be.
We Americans need to grieve for our ownselves on the 4th. I’ve been reading alot lately about the Weimar Republic and it seems to me that Trump is less Hitlerian than we Americans are like Germans between the wars - putting aside any sense of cognition or morality to believe the lies of a narcissistic charlatan who promises great things and delivers disaster while enriching himself and his cronies. So grieve now for our collective ignorance and docility, but be sure to vote in November. It’s not only your right ,it’s your responsibility.
I am struggling with this, too. I have kids and grandkids that want to at least do the evening fireworks, and I just don't feel it this year. I will be lamenting and praying.
It’s especially sad to see my friends who are poor, disabled individuals and seniors, who have bought into the lies, and turn a blind eye to the grift and plundering of our country.
That was beautiful, thank you. It captures exactly where I’m at right now and validates what so many of us are experiencing. What was once the last best hope on Earth has been taken over by a band of amoral thugs.
Thank you. I have been trying to turn my anger into lament and also keep my American flag flying along with symbols of compassion such as flying flags or signs for Ukraine, protecting our earth, justice. I do not want the Christian nationalist, MAGA etc. take my flag away from me.
This is the line that stuck out the most to me, “Lament is an honest form of love.” I am learning that there are all sorts of love aside from the romantic life. This is truly honest, and I can agree that when I think I about it deeply, I believe what I feel is a deep sense of grief for our state of affairs.
May we all sit across from each other at the table of hope.
Thank you Rev Cremer. You expressed my thoughts & my heart so well regarding the US in this dark moment. I thought about a funeral procession for the Declaration Of Independence or some like performance for our nation on our 250th. but holy grief in my quiet yard will do.
I'm saving my firecrackers for a different event.
I am so grateful for Amy Hawk leading me to your "Into The Gray" & Pat Kahnke introducing me to Mark Ramm & his "Transparency Cascade" posts. The church is still blessed with true leaders in you & the aforementioned. Our LORD is still there for us.
Thank you for naming what I’ve been feeling since this president’s first administration, particularly his responses to COVID and the Floyd protests (the Bible stunt - and MAGA’s misuse of God’s Word made me sick to my stomach).
Thank you for this. I already planned to make it a day of lament. You capture perfectly why. 🙏
Thank you. I have struggled with our flag because it’s misuse by maga. However, I still believe there are more believers, true Jesus Christians, than maga folks. God bless America!
I appreciate the piece and its sentiment. I am a playwright who has been focused on the role of grief in the present moment. Organizer Joe Hill famously said, "Don't mourn, organize," before his death. Perhaps for him personally. But what power does organizing have if it is not grounded in grief which is grounded in love--for what was, and what--in a new incarnation--could still be.
Those words are exactly how I feel. Such deep remorse for what we have done to those created in His image. My heart breaks.
We Americans need to grieve for our ownselves on the 4th. I’ve been reading alot lately about the Weimar Republic and it seems to me that Trump is less Hitlerian than we Americans are like Germans between the wars - putting aside any sense of cognition or morality to believe the lies of a narcissistic charlatan who promises great things and delivers disaster while enriching himself and his cronies. So grieve now for our collective ignorance and docility, but be sure to vote in November. It’s not only your right ,it’s your responsibility.
Now that's a word. Thank you Rev.
I am struggling with this, too. I have kids and grandkids that want to at least do the evening fireworks, and I just don't feel it this year. I will be lamenting and praying.
Excellent read.
It’s especially sad to see my friends who are poor, disabled individuals and seniors, who have bought into the lies, and turn a blind eye to the grift and plundering of our country.
That was beautiful, thank you. It captures exactly where I’m at right now and validates what so many of us are experiencing. What was once the last best hope on Earth has been taken over by a band of amoral thugs.
Thank you. I have been trying to turn my anger into lament and also keep my American flag flying along with symbols of compassion such as flying flags or signs for Ukraine, protecting our earth, justice. I do not want the Christian nationalist, MAGA etc. take my flag away from me.
Thank you Rev Cremer.
This is the line that stuck out the most to me, “Lament is an honest form of love.” I am learning that there are all sorts of love aside from the romantic life. This is truly honest, and I can agree that when I think I about it deeply, I believe what I feel is a deep sense of grief for our state of affairs.
May we all sit across from each other at the table of hope.
Thank you Rev Cremer. You expressed my thoughts & my heart so well regarding the US in this dark moment. I thought about a funeral procession for the Declaration Of Independence or some like performance for our nation on our 250th. but holy grief in my quiet yard will do.
I'm saving my firecrackers for a different event.
I am so grateful for Amy Hawk leading me to your "Into The Gray" & Pat Kahnke introducing me to Mark Ramm & his "Transparency Cascade" posts. The church is still blessed with true leaders in you & the aforementioned. Our LORD is still there for us.
Thank you for naming what I’ve been feeling since this president’s first administration, particularly his responses to COVID and the Floyd protests (the Bible stunt - and MAGA’s misuse of God’s Word made me sick to my stomach).
I am so heartbroken. I have nightmares every night. My eye is on the elections.