A friend who has devoted her adult life to global poverty texted me this week. Discouragement, confusion, chaos is everywhere. A sense of paranoia and ruthless cruelty has settled in our capital, and now the enemies of America are apparently other Americans.

I sent these words to her amid the distress and I share them with you if you need them.

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There’s a famous story that Robert Bly tells about Carl Jung who, whenever a friend reported enthusiastically, ‘I have just been promoted!’ Jung would say, ‘I’m very sorry to hear that; but if we all stick together, I think we will get through it.’ On the other hand, if a friend arrived depressed and ashamed, saying, ‘I’ve just been fired,’ Jung would say, ‘Let’s open a bottle of wine; this is wonderful news; something good will happen now.’

Now this may seem like backwards thinking to the rational mind, but to the soul it makes wonderful sense ”  ln some moments the greatest energy of hope comes by being able to see in the moment what is not yet  This is the genius of faith, is it not? 

In the chaos of this moment amid the political bravado that has plunged impulsively ahead without a step 2 in mind, as years of careful work are knocked over by billionaire little boys playing King of the Hill, perhaps this scripture will help.

Hebrews 12 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Ignorance, stupidity  and sometimes even the well intended good intentions on the highway to hell have the seeds of their own undoing. You and the people you speak to have the most important work of all: to bear witness and keep bearing witness so that the arrogant, the misinformed, the mean-spirited, the ignorant, and the stubborn cannot have the last word. 

David French recently said we have two duties in this moment: protect the vulnerable and speak the truth.

Don’t forget, there is a cloud of witnesses so vast that the malicious forces of this moment looks like a bb rolling down a four lane interstate highway. At least that is my fragile hope.

We’re all out here. Help us help you. 

Hang on, friends. And stay together. Something good is up ahead.