Rumblings. 4.17.26
1. “The prophetic tasks of the church are to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair. ~ Walter Bruggeman
That my friends, refers to us. It’s very much a part of our divine assignment.
Our ability to grieve, I’m discovering is vital, especially after we come to grips with how we, as individuals and as a collective, have actually helped create so much despair.
2. Trump demanded it and J.D. Vance hustled to Hungary to help boost Orban the Dictator’s chances for winning yet another election. Oops. So much for Trump having coattails.
3. In less than two years, the world has figured out what the United States has become and one nation after another is choosing to back away from us. And yet, there are those in our midst who insist America is still an attractive and just partner. Seriously?
4. “We should measure the prosperity of a nation not by the number of millionaires, but by the absence of poverty, the prevalence of health, the efficiency of the public schools, and the number of people who can and do read worthwhile books.” ~ W. E. B. Du Bois - February, 1953
For those of you who consider these kinds of rumbles to be expressions of ‘wokeness’ - you’re right. Thanks for the compliment.
5. The cartoon has a smiling Obama saying to Trump: “You usually get something back in a deal … just a tip.”
Trump certainly got played. How will he rebound? My hunch? By putting even more military personnel in peril, waging war on civilians as he always does and then lying like a crazy man, blaming everyone but himself for any missteps we make.
6. Yes, the meme of Trump, as Jesus, in a healing posture, was indeed sacrilegious. If you think otherwise, please get help.
7. “Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." Gandalf, Lord of the Rings.
Together, doing small things, in the name of all that is good, will be what ultimately stems the tide of evil that is currently sucking the life out of us.
8. This post by my friends at The Transforming Center really touched me.
“Teresa of Avila is credited with the observation that “when one reaches the highest degree of human maturity, one has only one question left: How can I be helpful?” (from Ronald Rolheiser’s “Sacred Fire”)
9. Emmaus Journey
O Risen and Always Rising One, when we walk in grief and despair you walk with us.
When we question our faith, you open our eyes to know more deeply.
When we seek nourishment and rest and family you join us.
When we are bewildered, when we don't know what to do with our lives, you take them, bless them, break them, and give them to us, and to the world, in love.
Have not our hearts burned within us as you have accompanied us all along? ~ Steve Garnaas-Holmes
10. Now that the White House is totally miffed about what Pope Leo is saying and doing, is there any chance they'll invade and then pilfer all the riches in Vatican City?
That’s meant to be funny, but in many respects it’s not. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that crowd considered some kind of ‘let’s get even with the pope’ gambit. When a group of powerful people don’t cultivate a collective, moral conscience, everything is in play.
Vance, by the way, has looked absolutely foolish trying to cross theological swords, with Pope Leo. Sorry man, you’re not even close to being in the same league.
He can get away with such nonsense with theological light weights Paula White, Pete Hegseth and others in the White House Faith Cabinet orbit, but beyond that, he’s being laughed at.