I keep practicing opposites: When I feel sad, I dance barefoot in the kitchen. When I am tired, I hop on our exercise bike and pedal away. When I feel despair, I read a book of poems on joy.
This practice doesn't always work, but it often feels like my best effort at resistance in a moment in time that seems engineered to decimate our spirits.
In the introduction to his book of poems on joy, Christian Wiman drops this beauty from the Bard himself, William Shakespeare:
"How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea?"
How with democracy crumbling shall beauty hold a plea?
How with battering rams knocking down front doors shall beauty hold a plea?
How with wars and threats of wars shall beauty hold a plea?
How with presidents waving middle fingers shall beauty hold a plea?
How with Christians cheering cruelty shall beauty hold a plea?
How with children witnessing chaos shall beauty hold a plea?
I don't believe this quote is meant to cause us to throw up our hands and give up on beauty as the world rages.
No.
Instead, it should spur us, in times like these, to double down on beauty. To go all in on beauty. To seek out and to spread beauty like it is our job. To bet the farm on beauty.
The beauty of neighbors walking other people's kids to school as an act of love and protection.
The beauty of artists, poets, writers, and musicians using their gifts to impart the kind of truth that headlines and sound bites will never capture.
The beauty of Go Fund Me campaigns for medical care, funeral expenses, legal services or groceries.
The beauty of clergy standing in the streets risking life and limb for not only their congregants, but for those who will never grace their doors.
The beauty of parents having hard, holy conversations with their kids, doing all they can to teach them about loyalty, democracy, citizenship and mercy.
The beauty of non-profits working on shoestring budgets with boots on the ground and hearts on their sleeves.
The beauty of grandparents and veterans and school children showing up to protest, peacefully.
Sunrises.
Snowy days.
Dog parks.
Art museums.
Concerts.
The smell of woodfire smoke curling out of a chimney.
The simple fact that human love will always be stronger than hate.
"How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea?"
It just will.
It just will.
Thank you for this!
This is beautiful and just what I needed today. Thank you, Alice!
It is so important to continue as you say to overcome the ugliness.