As Senior Librarian at The New Buddhist Methodist Church, blessed with a wonderfully supportive community, near and far, I am, nevertheless, not immune to being overwhelmed, as so many of us in the U.S. now are, by the devolving political chaos and vicious social polarization we experience on a daily– indeed, hourly– basis.
On the one hand, feeling impotent, I want to run, hide. Which I do, on more days than I care to admit. On the other hand, I want to fight, make things right. But how? What to do? How to resist, how to fight?
One of my favorite “public intellectuals” is the Bulgarian immigrant, Maria Popova, who puts out a brilliant, free weekly newsletter entitled “Brain Pickings.” Recently, she once again lifted my spirits and showed me the light by bringing attention to Toni Morrison’s reminder that troubled times are the best times, the most necessary times for artists to mobilize. More specifically, she wrote…
“There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”
Reading her, it was as if I was awakened from a dream. Yes, of course. If there was ever a time for Buddhist Methodist artistry, — and insightful artistsry of any brand—this is obviously that time. We artists need to reaffirm– through whatever art form calls us– that beauty heals, that we are still one humanity, one being, one family, — in spite of crazy uncles. We are here to remind each other that, yes, the good will out, the harmony will win, the laughter can return.
Indeed, there is no time for despair, no place for self pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. Our work is here, now. Our art– our peace– is so much in demand!
So make art– however you can. Whatever it is. Make art now. The time is here.
If you are so inclined, we’d like to hear from you…
