Protest

My protest will be:

To act with kindness when faced with hatred,

To plant flowers, raising beauty as my shield against the ugliness,

To share my food, because others are hungry,

To write a letter, instead of wringing my hands helplessly,

To cry tears of grief and anger, so numbness cannot overtake my heart,

To refuse to fall for false reassurances and the tempting comforts of ignorance,

To contribute my voice in outrage, when others are forced into silence,

To immerse myself in the courage of others, when mine fails me,

To speak the truth as I find it, humbly aware that it is not the whole truth,

And, when I do not know how to love my enemies, to find a way to love their children.

– Rev. J. Lynn James, LCPC