This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below.

Rumblings. 11.22.24

1. In January, when the deportations begin, I’ll be fearfully interested as I watch how it all unfolds. It will speak volumes about the content of the collective character of the next administration. Will they treat the undocumented immigrants as men and women made in the image and likeness of God or as garbage that needs to be thrown to the curb? 

Campaign rhetoric leans toward the latter. 

If that’s the case, I will probably say something about it. 

And then people I know will get up in my grill arguing that “We’re finally cleansing our country of ‘those people’. If you’re not with the program, leave with them.” 

At that point, I will give myself permission to shake my head in total disgust.

2. “Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness around me.” ~ Sojourner Truth

And all God’s people said Amen. 

I know a whole lot of folks who were devastated by the results of the election. It was and still is a dark time for them. Many gave themselves a time out, licked their wounds, did some intentional self care, and are now ready to at least consider easing back into the fray. When push comes to shove they won’t allow their disappointment to get in the way of God’s call on their lives.” 

Others have caved into the darkness and it is slowly, but surely  sucking the life right out of them. It’s hard to watch. If that’s you, please look for help. 

3. “No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, 

A part of the main…

Any man’s death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.” ~ John Donne 

Donne’s poem, for good reason, is linked in my brain, to the Swahili word Ubuntu which means “I am because you are.” 

The understanding is that when we see each person as having deep value and when together, we contribute towards the common good and the welfare of others, everyone wins. 

We are not isolated islands of humanity. We are not meant to be rugged individualists, bereft of community. We were created to need and care for each other.

4. I feel compelled, in these tumultuous times, to refresh the memory of when and why I said yes to Christ in the first place. 

And since, I have had many conversion experiences (one and done is not my testimony) it behooves me to also refresh and cherish those memories. It’s like being born again, again.

5. If I was the president elect and had the power to weaken our country from the inside out, I’d start by nominating an extremist, clown-show level executive branch team, beholden to special interest groups, ill equipped by virtue of character and experience to serve the country well, and totally committed to never, ever, stand against me. 

Once sworn in, I would demand that they weaponize their particular agency and wage a vicious war against any and all of my perceived enemies. I’d also do whatever I could to bypass the legislative branch of government, ignoring established check and balances norms, and would continue to stack the judiciary with people who would do me no harm. 

I’d also slash taxes on billionaires and corporations and reduce funding for programs aimed at the poorest and most vulnerable among us.

In the aftermath of all this, I’d be delighted if the end result was chaos and instability. Of course, I’d blame that on others. 

Quite obviously, integrity won’t allow me to do such things. My faith would order me to repent if I tried. My love of country would stop me in my tracks. My friends would call me on it. 

Seriously, who would do such things?  And who would be gullible enough to continue to root for that person? 

I’ve met some of the gullible ones. They’re in for a rude surprise. I don’t know when but there will be a time when they’ll realize they’ve been duped and are next in line to be  thrown on the trash heap, discarded and demeaned. Cuz that’s how their guy rolls. 

6. In times of distress rule #1 is to be present to the Presence (of God), in the present moment.  

7. When I meet someone whose ego is supersized it doesn’t take long to ascertain that their conscience is probably undersized. 

8.  ‘When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.’ ~ Dom Helder Camara

Ah, the name callers. They’re in your corner until you ask a question they won’t or cannot answer. Then the gloves come off. 

9. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently stated: “We are confronted with the urgency of now” and we must make every effort not to be “too late.”

Sadly, we probably are too late regarding some things, but not all things. Embracing  the urgency of ‘now’, like right now, needs to be a priority. Standing up and speaking out is a rather good  way to start. I’m with Dietrich Bonhoeffer who wisely proclaimed that  “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.”

10. “All truth is God’s truth.” ~ Augustine

If you are a regular reader of the Rumblings, you’ve noticed that I quote a wide variety of people, much to the dismay of some whose view of what’s acceptable and what’s not is pretty rigidly set. Richard Rohr really sets them off, as does Rumi and Malcolm X and women theologians.  

Most of those I quote are from the fairly diverse Christian world I inhabit but many aren’t. I’m just attracted to the wisdom of insightful people, even though I might disagree with them. I’m choosing to be a lifelong learner. The goal has never been to be considered learned.

“All truth” is indeed “God’s truth.”