Well it's been quiet over here on the blog. And to be sure there are seasons for quiet. As it turns out this is not one of them.
The Arise Podcast released a special episode today entitled "Loving Your Neighbor." It is, as my colleague and podcast partner Danielle says, "borne out of deep resonance with community members and friends." It is a communal outcry, a song of love sung with hopes of drowning out the hate. It is a call to action: a vision of what we hope to be that inspires us to move today towards that aim. I'll be honest, I cried when I heard the final cut. Such beauty. Such goodness. I want to be that neighbor. I want to live in that neighborhood.
"This collection of voices and people naming why they love their neighbor is what it's all about. I think this is some of our best work because it's YOUR work, too. WE did this together, with you and for you and for all of us. For love.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Here are the show notes from the episode:
This is a special episode corresponding with an upcoming demonstration of "loving your neighbor" in our hometown of Poulsbo, WA. You will hear a collection of voices and words of why folks love their neighbor as a direct response to an upcoming known hate-group leader speaking a local church in our community this coming Sunday (Aug 22nd.)
To call on the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in a sermon from 1957 (and quote in his book Strength to Love, 1963), "Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Here is why we love our neighbors...
Danielle. Melissa. Rebekah. Diana. Petra. Jenny. Alex. Corban. Camper. (no name). Misty. Elise. Ben. Victoria. Luca. Estella. Benjamin. Sean. Julie. Keisha. Wayne. Luis. (no name) Maggie.
Here's what you need to know:
A local church in our area of Kitsap is bringing Joseph Backholm to come and speak on Sunday morning from the pulpit and in a "discussion panel" later that evening.
Joseph Backholm's organization is listed as a hate group under the Southern Poverty Law Center . A quick look at his twitter feed and his own words will speak for themselves--his words are not only full of hate but they also incite violence towards marginalized groups.
In response, there is an organized protest in support of loving our neighbors--all people. And the Arise Podcast joins that effort here by collecting messages of why we love our neighbors .
Here is a link to the ACLU's Guide to "Know Your Rights" regarding protests.
You'll also find information about what you can to do participate in showing support for "Loving Your Neighbor." We've listed action steps in our facebook community, from making phone calls to showing up with signs on Sunday in support of the BIPOC and LBGTQ community. Mask up and stay on the sidewalks.
We hope this podcast has got you thinking: Who is your neighbor? And what does it look like to love them?