You must do the work

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But Heaven is full of good works. A saying attributed to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

And you say I'm a fool-around
Honey that may be true
But I'd sooner fool around
Than be a fool for a fool
And if I could forgive
The unadulterated adulterating apprehension
I could forgive the rest too
It's just a fact of life
That no one cares to mention
She wasn't good
But she had good intentions
Read more: Lyle Lovett - Good Intentions Lyrics | MetroLyrics

I have often wondered if all of life could be explained by song lyrics. The Rolling Stones surely have taught me much. Particularly, you can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you find, you get what you need.

But, the song lyric I quote most often is the Lyle Lovett lyric She wasn't good but she had good intentions. This is often true of me, as well. So it could easily be He wasn't good but HE had good intentions.

Today is the first full day of the presidency of Donald J. Trump. Although yesterday was not a full workday for the new president, he wasted no time in beginning his reign of terror and his wreaking of havoc.

And, also, on this day, my wife and many other wives are riding buses to Washington, DC to participate in the Women's March on Washington. I'll be doing my part as I march on Market Square in Knoxville, TN in support of her and all her fellow Nasty Women.

And, as disturbing as it is, we must give the new president and all his followers due credit for his election. Because, even if we disagree with their values and their methods, we must recognize that their hatred for President Obama energized them to action.

The unity of purpose and willingness to act of the so-called Tea Party resulted in their virtual takeover of Governorships, State Legislatures, local School Boards, and both houses of Congress. And, finally, their unity lead to the election of the 45th President of the United States.

We may hate everything that they stand for. We may resist and rebel against most everything that they do. But we must also recognize that they did the work.

Because it matters not that you and I are right in our convictions. Convictions alone - like good intentions - do nothing. They may make us feel righteous. We may feel validated as disasters unfold in the coming years. But we must not forget that we, too, bear some responsibility.

Our is a participatory form of government. Tweets, Facebook posts and snarky conversation may make us feel good, but without real action - without letters to the Editor or our Congressional representatives, nothing changes.

And sometimes, actions have consequences - both good and bad. When Alabama State troopers attacked civil-rights demonstrators outside Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, all of those that were bloodied and beaten suffered consequences for their actions.

Newton's Third Law of Motion can be summarized as Every action has an opposite and equal reaction. The actions of those courageous marchers in 1965 was met with equal force - nay, even greater force - by the white racists who opposed them.

Do not be surprised if - when you move beyond good intentions to good works - things actually become more difficult.

There truly is no free lunch, and as Nike famously stated No Pain, No Gain.

For most of my adult life, I have been writing a book. The title has varied, but in my own Viktor Frankel way, considering myself a writer has been my own search for meaning.
But those good intentions - possibly even smug intentions - did not result in any ISBN entries. There have been no book tours or signing parties.

But one good result I am seeing from the most recent election, is the awakening and renewed commitment of millions of liberally-minded Americans. I may not get a major book deal in 2017, but by god I will finish Confessions of a Heretic Christian. If need be, I will self-publish my tome, and I will schedule my own readings and book signings.

Because, when Congressman John Lewis was being beaten by white Alabama State Troopers, when Dr. King was sitting (alone) in that Birmingham Jail writing his famous letter to his fellow clergymen, they did not know that they would win.

It was by faith they walked, not by sight. The did see that heavenly city, but only vaguely - and with no idea of the distance required to travel to it.

So we, like them, must commit to what we must do - to that thing that if we do not do it - our souls will die and our children will know that we failed them.

Walk. Chant. Write letters. Protest with the willingness to suffer if we must, but we will not remain silent.

Raise hell. And bring down heaven. Do the work.

dg 

1/21/17
Sent from my iPad