dearheart mail | no. 4: don't give up on love.

dearheart,

I've been thinking and listening, trying to find the words that will ground me and help me make sense of the chaos I see unfolding before me. Everywhere I turn I see people fighting and tearing each other apart. I have wept, not being able to understand how people who claim to love and serve God can be so cruel to their brothers and sisters. Empathy, non-judgement and unconditional love are a rare sight these days, but I know without a doubt they are part of the way forward to healing our world.

I've also been thinking about what part I have to play...and while I'm still working to figure that out one thing has become abundantly clear. Over the past year or so there is one song that has stood out to me---that I have sung over and over again. I have sung it as I cried in the shower after losing my dog last fall. I have sung it in my car as a prayer over friends who were dealing with divorce and another with an unexpected pregnancy. I have texted its lyrics to so many as an offering of hope. And as I think about the state of affairs in our country and the world, I am holding onto them again, and finding one line in particular to be my north star:

In a world of social media fights, 24 hour news cycles and an endless barrage of us vs. them rhetoric, it can feel like we're living in quicksand. I have no desire to live like that or be a part of communities who are not leading with empathy, understanding and love for each other.

"Don't stop trying to find me here amidst the chaos

Though I know it's blinding, there's a way out

Say out loud

We will not give up on love now"

And that is the vow I invite each of us to make as we head into a new week. We will not give up on love. When the world is burning and chaos is all around or tragedy arrives at our door, we will be each other's solid ground---a safe place to land. We won't do this perfectly, because we're human, but we can try our best, and practice ruthless self-care so our hearts have good, fertile soil.

xo,

B

Orpheus by Sara Bareilles

Listen to the song "Orpheus" by Sara Bareilles here.

Come by the fire, lay down your head My love, I see you're growing tired So set the bad day by the bed, and rest a while Your eyes can close You don't have to do a thing but listen to me sing I know you miss the world, the one you knew The one where everything made sense Because you didn't know the truth, that's how it works 'Til the bottom drops out and you learn We're all just hunters seeking solid ground

Don't stop trying to find me here amidst the chaos Though I know it's blinding, there's a way out Say out loud We will not give up on love now No fear, don't you turn like Orpheus, just stay here Hold me in the dark, and when the day appears We'll say We did not give up on love today

I'll show you good, restore your faith I'll try and somehow make a meaning of the poison in this place Convince you love, don't breathe it in You were written in the stars that we are swimming in And it has no name, no guarantee It's just the promise of a day I know that some may never see But that's enough, if the bottom drops out I hope my love was someone else's solid ground

Don't stop trying to find me here amidst the chaos Though I know it's blinding, there's a way out Say out loud We will not give up on love now No fear, don't you turn like Orpheus, just stay here Hold me in the dark, and when the day appears We'll say We did not give up on love today We'll say We did not give up on love today