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. 1.12.24

1. Rudolf Dreikeurs said: “Until I can risk appearing imperfect in your eyes without fear that it will cost me something, I can’t really learn from you.”

Yep. Nailed it. What will my vulnerability cost me? How will you react to my ‘less than perfect’ efforts? Can you accept me as I am or do I need to wear a mask and pretend?

1. “For better or worse, elections and referendums are not about what we think. They’re about what we feel.” ~ Yuval Noah Harari

The MAGA movement and its subsidiaries (like FOX News) know this to be true. Thus, it has become particularly adept at manipulating the feelings of their loyalists by simply distorting truth and discouraging discernment.

It’s all really quite sinister but in its own way, quite genius.

Even if they prevail (my whole being shudders even thinking this thought) one thing will remain true. Booker T. Washington said it well:

“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

1. “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ~ Rumi

The people I admire the most are the ones who do make positive life changes. I’ve always loved the song by singer/songwriter Sara Groves entitled Just Showed Up For My Own Life.

“Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing

Hoping the changes would take by working their way from the outside in

I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing the holes in the shiny veneer

There are so many ways to hide

There are so many ways not to feel

There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life

And I’m standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

I’m going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place

Open the windows and feel all that’s honest and real until I’m truly amazed

I’m going to feel all my emotions
I’m going to look you in the eyes
I’m going to listen and hear until it’s finally clear and it changes our lives…”

1. Heather Cox Richardson, on New Years Eve, reminded us of the vision President Biden laid out for our country in April, 2021. It sure beats the unseemly “rot in hell” diatribe we received on Christmas 2023 from you know who.

“In a time of rising autocrats who believe democracy is failing, can the United States demonstrate that democracy is still vital?

“Can our democracy deliver on its promise that all of us, created equal in the image of God, have a chance to lead lives of dignity, respect, and possibility?

Can our democracy deliver…to the most pressing needs of our people? Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate, and fears that have pulled us apart?”

America’s adversaries are betting that the U.S. is so full of anger and division that it cannot. “But they are wrong,” “You know it; I know it. But we have to prove them wrong.”

Friends, three years ago we came dangerously close to losing our country. Insurrectionists, fueled by the sitting president’s anger and rhetoric, tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power. They wanted Mike Pence to hang, they hunted for Speaker Pelosi, they attacked the Capitol Police, they destroyed property and prevented Congress from doing its job.

Do you remember that?

I do.

And I don’t want to forget it.

I know what I saw.

And I know the sitting president did nothing to stop what he provoked. Instead, he watched it on TV and reveled in what he saw.

I’m still appalled by those who choose to believe and proclaim that what happened on January 6 was a peaceful and orderly protest. That includes Republican members of Congress who were rightfully shivering in fright during the assault they’re now choosing to ignore.

1. “It’s funny, isn’t it? That you can preach a judgmental and vengeful and angry God and nobody will mind. But you start preaching a God that is too accepting, too loving, too forgiving, too merciful, too kind… and you are in trouble.” ~ Bishop Gene Robinson

“We find the God who comes down to visit us, not by basking in some elegant religious theory, but by setting out on a journey, seeking the signs of his presence in everyday life, and above all in encountering and touching the flesh of our brothers and sisters.” ~ Pope Francis

“People who’ve had any genuine spiritual experience always know that they don’t know. They are utterly humbled before mystery. They are in awe before the abyss of it all, in wonder at eternity and depth, and a Love, which is incomprehensible to the mind.” ~ Richard Rohr, Falling Upward

1. Alexandra Petri’s opinion piece in the Washington Post was entitled: “GOP baffled that ‘We Don’t Care if You Die’ is not a winning slogan.”

“The road to our version of the Handmaid’s Tale will be lined with smiling Christian Nationalists telling women to stop overreacting.” ~ Unknown

“First of all, come November I’m going to assemble all my thoughts and prayers and bring them with me into the ballot box.” ~ source unknown

1. Go off somewhere quiet and hidden and say to God:

“I don’t know.

I don’t know where to go from here.

I don’t know what is happening.

I don’t know how to process this.

I don’t know what to do with these emotions.

I don’t know how to handle this situation.

And then with whatever dusty, sand grain of faith you have, say,

But you know.” ~ Unknown

And then you sit for a while in the very presence of God, who loves you, and who honors prayers like this. You relax into the present moment and just ‘be’. Sometimes, that’s all we need to do.

1. “New leadership is needed for new times, but it will not come from finding more wiley ways to manipulate the external world. It will come as we … find the courage to take an inner journey … to become healers in a wounded world.” ~ Parker Palmer

Now, more than ever, we need healers. There’s walking wounded wherever we look.

1. “Any god who is mine, but not yours, any god concerned about me but not with you, is an idol.” ~ Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Lots of idol worship going on these days. Lots of it.

1. “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl

When we get this right, everything changes. Everything. Thank God for a built-in pause button. What could happen if we actually used it?

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