(This recording captures Jim in a house concert in Wisconsin during his September tour.)Everybody loves the hero’s journey stories (in the end). You know, “It was hard, dangerous, scary, but I made it - to the prize” - winning the race, maybe even finding peace - all those good things, happy endings. But reflections on the journey while in the middle of it all? “Things are hard” – well, that’s just complaining.
The destruction of our society, environment, education, equality, is all around us. And I don’t think I need to spend time listing all that. If you’re reading this, you probably know all about it. I heard the most polite description: “a great transition” in the world as we know it. We’re struggling with our response and groping for hope. Where is that positive ending? How long and how far?
This is the situation we find ourselves in, a long obstacle course in front of us, just to get back to things old folks like me marched for a half century ago. Shouldn’t it be easier? Morality and compassion to prevail and peace and trust just happen? Apparently peace is partisan. I thought everybody believed it was at least a goal if not the way. Apparently not. This journey is going to be challenging.
I’ve been a part of protests and peace marches for so many years, and I’ve often wondered about their effectiveness. Is it just a place to vent and feel better? Does it educate, enlighten? Or is it just divisive, as the other side sees us as nothing but opposition?
It makes us feel better to feel heard, certainly, and speaking for the other side, they need to feel heard as well. I don’t mean the criminals in charge. Our neighbors have been lied to, and they are likely to be resistant to hearing that. Tempting as it may be to dismiss them, avoid them, we must engage. We don’t need any more “us and them.” We need teachers, and we need healers.
It will take courage, and it takes some preparation. I think it’s time for each of us to do some creative work; take the time to think - to write, if that’s what you do, draw, envision, whatever it is that is your way - about how to get to the healing. My friend David Roth said, “When I respond in kind, I just continue the cycle.”
We need to make our story not an argument but a work of art. And the magic of art is that it allows you to see someone else’s perspective – even if you don’t agree with it. We can make an art of our arguments. So, singing the blues can be positive testimony. And singing about the process could be helpful to each other as we go. If you’re not coming up with your own words, you can steal someone else’s; memorizing a quotation is a cultivated thing to do. Of course, if you make it rhyme maybe people will remember it longer.
I’m seeing it everywhere I travel, the movement is rising. Just a little while ago, we didn’t imagine we would need to do this, but we do. Let’s acknowledge that times are hard and then take a step to get involved - just one step will do at a time - and no one said it would be easy.
See This Through
It will make – a good story – later –
nothing good about it till it’s done
This never works, and it’ll never work - until it does,
all’s lost, until it’s won.
Turns out to be a steeper hill, a heavy stone,
All the best intentions seem to have dropped me here alone.
Walls and defenses - that’s nothing new.
There’s a light on the horizon, got to see this through.
One thing about challenging times, they live up to their name.
You find out who your friends are, and who they aren’t,
so different, so the same.
Asking more of you than ever, comfort and safety lost,
Not worth the time, not worth the cost.
Not worth the risk, but something inside of you
Gets down to nothing left, but to see this through.
From that high ground of greater suffering,
so much for compassion, human rights.
Forgiveness and healing drown in the thrill of the fight.
Can this be the way to peace? The process slow and long.
Listen to the other side, even when you know they’re wrong.
Doubt and hesitation, goes without mention,
But the most moral, human gesture is just attention.
In a sea of lies, hold tight to what is true,
No better time than this, to see this through.
You could turn away, but the beacon shines clear and true,
There’s a chance, we could see this through
© 2/25 Jim Scott
