I am not at the place of hope that you are. I am not ready for the darkness that is being promised by those about to gain power (though, I am hopeful for the overall ineffectiveness last time). But, that is why I have been following you for 4+ years... I appreciate the example you set for me and others.
I love that you end with a call to action rooted in hope.
I am reminded of the parting words to Canadians by the Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party and official opposition in the Canadian House of Commons, "My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."
For context, Jack Layton led the NDP to its best ever election result in May 2011, he died in August of that same year, penning the words above 2 days before his death. I think of him often as the political landscape in Canada looks much like that of the US. I just watched a political party be decimated in our provincial election because the card carrying members of that party could not see fit to have a Black woman lead them...the white guy they picked instead could not even hold his own seat.
Thank you for reminding me to not give in to despair.
I will admit, I am skeptical. I see the verses about evil, lies, etc eventually reaping the consequences but I don't know that I believe it. I guess it makes sense in the longer context of what you are saying, that we are reaping from the past/present of denying people the vote, but how is it a reaping if it doesn't end in justice for the ones who were wronged? It sounds a lot more like the world just getting worse and worse forever. (Take this all with a grain of salt, I'm in my cynic era.)
Beautifully written as always, Pastor Trey. As an Xian-passing straight white guy in the Deep South, I’ve tried to instill in everyone around me the fear I’ve had since 2008 that white people don’t have better angels of their nature. Wherever we go forward from here will not be pretty. Because America isn’t pretty.
You seem unaware of the extremely well documented concerted efforts by the DNC, the outgoing president, the Democrat candidate, our beloved and various intelligence communities and the corporate media to delegitimize his 2016 victory and oust him from the White House. Russian collusion, sex tapes, Putin and on and on for 4 years. All of it lies still believed by millions.
Again, well documented.
Was Democracy well, on life support or dead then too?
And what are we to make of the DNC's *twice* removing its members' right to vote for their candidate? Sanders, the leader by a wide margin, was quite literally erased in 2016 and Harris quite literally installed by DNC leadership in 2024. Was democracy alive and well then?
No mention of Ukranian lives not lost to war during his tenure or the lives saved by the overturning of Roe v. Wade because of him. And no word of the Palestinians not killed by American bombs during his tenure. Among those Palestinians were not a few Christians; our *family*.
Not bad for a scoundrel when you take off the race colored glasses.
You're not alone in this. Trump Derangement Syndrome afflicted me deeply in 2016 when I crossed party lines and voted for Clinton. That ain't a small thing when you're the child of Cuban exiles.
It took 2 months before I learned how badly I'd been duped by those trusted and respectable news sources.
I decided to go with what I saw and not what I was being told or even by what flew out of his mouth.
His actions, as it turned out, spoke louder and more clearly than his words.
And by that measure he was and is infinitely more honest than his predecessors, his successor and the disingeuous and foul empty suit he just clobbered a few days ago.
There are many Scriptures that can be used to describe the man but the one I find most appropriate are those having to do with Nebuchadnezzer.
He is, if nothing else, a version of that old king. And one part of this nation richly deserves.
Beloved, I literally wrote that Democracy died in 2013. Before Trump took office. Maybe you could be bothered to read the essays before you commit to writing your own in the comments.
Not a lie told. This is a beautiful word of hope. Thank you, Trey.
🥺 thank YOU
I am not at the place of hope that you are. I am not ready for the darkness that is being promised by those about to gain power (though, I am hopeful for the overall ineffectiveness last time). But, that is why I have been following you for 4+ years... I appreciate the example you set for me and others.
Oh don’t get me wrong: before all that rebuilding, a lotta people died.
It’s gon get ugly.
I love that you end with a call to action rooted in hope.
I am reminded of the parting words to Canadians by the Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party and official opposition in the Canadian House of Commons, "My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."
For context, Jack Layton led the NDP to its best ever election result in May 2011, he died in August of that same year, penning the words above 2 days before his death. I think of him often as the political landscape in Canada looks much like that of the US. I just watched a political party be decimated in our provincial election because the card carrying members of that party could not see fit to have a Black woman lead them...the white guy they picked instead could not even hold his own seat.
Thank you for reminding me to not give in to despair.
Excellent piece, especially the move to make clear this is a confession. Appreciate your work as always
Ball up top!
🤝
I will admit, I am skeptical. I see the verses about evil, lies, etc eventually reaping the consequences but I don't know that I believe it. I guess it makes sense in the longer context of what you are saying, that we are reaping from the past/present of denying people the vote, but how is it a reaping if it doesn't end in justice for the ones who were wronged? It sounds a lot more like the world just getting worse and worse forever. (Take this all with a grain of salt, I'm in my cynic era.)
Beautifully written as always, Pastor Trey. As an Xian-passing straight white guy in the Deep South, I’ve tried to instill in everyone around me the fear I’ve had since 2008 that white people don’t have better angels of their nature. Wherever we go forward from here will not be pretty. Because America isn’t pretty.
You seem unaware of the extremely well documented concerted efforts by the DNC, the outgoing president, the Democrat candidate, our beloved and various intelligence communities and the corporate media to delegitimize his 2016 victory and oust him from the White House. Russian collusion, sex tapes, Putin and on and on for 4 years. All of it lies still believed by millions.
Again, well documented.
Was Democracy well, on life support or dead then too?
And what are we to make of the DNC's *twice* removing its members' right to vote for their candidate? Sanders, the leader by a wide margin, was quite literally erased in 2016 and Harris quite literally installed by DNC leadership in 2024. Was democracy alive and well then?
No mention of Ukranian lives not lost to war during his tenure or the lives saved by the overturning of Roe v. Wade because of him. And no word of the Palestinians not killed by American bombs during his tenure. Among those Palestinians were not a few Christians; our *family*.
Not bad for a scoundrel when you take off the race colored glasses.
You're not alone in this. Trump Derangement Syndrome afflicted me deeply in 2016 when I crossed party lines and voted for Clinton. That ain't a small thing when you're the child of Cuban exiles.
It took 2 months before I learned how badly I'd been duped by those trusted and respectable news sources.
I decided to go with what I saw and not what I was being told or even by what flew out of his mouth.
His actions, as it turned out, spoke louder and more clearly than his words.
And by that measure he was and is infinitely more honest than his predecessors, his successor and the disingeuous and foul empty suit he just clobbered a few days ago.
There are many Scriptures that can be used to describe the man but the one I find most appropriate are those having to do with Nebuchadnezzer.
He is, if nothing else, a version of that old king. And one part of this nation richly deserves.
Beloved, I literally wrote that Democracy died in 2013. Before Trump took office. Maybe you could be bothered to read the essays before you commit to writing your own in the comments.