Be Not Distracted - Live Out Your Story!

It’s that awful time of the year: political flyers, relentless texts, and people pleading with me to vote for them! I have absolutely no faith in submitting to this empire that serves only those who have money, power, and privilege. What I do have faith in: people who resist the empire, grassroots movements motivated by inclusive compassion for those who’ve been rejected, and our Merciful God who loves those who are struggling, homeless, incarcerated, and refugees.

Every day, at the moment, if you’re like me, you’re getting bombarded with a whole lot of political mailings and videos from our incumbent alderman, James Cappleman. It's tiring! If it wasn’t for how many people believe this stuff, the lies and use of propaganda shoved in my face would be hilarious! I could ignore it, but he's had some real and devastating effects on the lives of people I care about. I cringe over how much money is spent mailing out and posting this propaganda so that he can be re-elected; money that could have been spent on the very things he claims he’s done and is doing! 

Anyone who knows me or reads my blog knows I have now been working with those experiencing homelessness for over 20 years and how much I was involved in Uptown Tent City. I knew just about everybody under these viaducts and went down there most days. I had the honor of assisting many of the UTC residents to secure housing. With many others, I played a major role, I fought hard, I made mistakes, and I tried to love my neighbors right until the bitter end, only to see the police and other city officials come in droves and force the remaining ones to scatter - leaving them still homeless and with a new dose of trauma! 

In the light of being in the middle of this heart-wrenching experience, I know how much our alderman exaggerated the role he played and the number housed, not to mention how much he downplayed his role in UTC's eventual destruction. To those of us who were involved, his pamphlets and videos on homelessness, where he claims full credit, are agonizing and infuriating! 

Why lie? Why boost the number? Do you know that number 96 most likely includes those who were relegated to the inactive list? - people who were incarcerated, disappeared, passed away, or were never homeless in the first place! These are real people facing real struggles. I know the real numbers, I know who played parts, I know who frequented the viaducts with or without media, I know who got things done and who didn’t! As he claims full credit, it’s a vicious slap in the face of all of us who worked tirelessly to assist our friends. Those men and women were helped because of their own resilience and a grassroots movement of activists, outreach workers, compassionate neighbors and the like!

But the thing is, dealing with such politics is nothing new. It's brutal. It causes an increased burden and suffering on the poor and marginalized. Jesus knew the danger, and that’s why he cautioned his disciples with these words, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 

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Jesus is telling us to watch out and beware because yeast absorbs into the whole loaf of bread. It changes all of it! In this case, it is so demeaning and destructive, therefore we have to "watch out", we can’t let it deceive or distract us!

Jesus uses yeast in another story, where he tells us that his kingdom is the yeast that’s kneaded in all the dough. In other words, we can have an impact too! We got to be our own yeast, working silently and mysteriously, vigorously and courageously for the good and redemption of those around us! 

The lies will come! The propaganda will continue! People will get fooled! There’s no doubt about that - therefore we, like Jesus, need to counter their yeast with our own, which means loving our neighbors (and enemies) with the revolutionary love he proclaimed and lived. He is our example - he remained true to his mission, never stopped serving others, and proclaimed the truth that sets people free. 

Live out your story! 

Try not to be distracted. 

Live out your calling!
Try not to be deceived.

The truth is, there's a high probability that Cappleman will win this election! Politics is not an equal fight! The odds are stacked for him. However corrupt or suspect it may all be, he has the money, the endorsements, the real estate developers, the endless propaganda, and the experience! This fight is his to lose! 

Despite if he wins, despite who becomes mayor, despite the fact Trump is president, we must live out our stories, and not be distracted by the lies, thievery, and oppressive tactics they use! We must continue to live out our callings. We need to relentlessly do our work and not surrender to the callous bullies. Loving our neighbors, especially the weakest and most vulnerable ones, is such a powerful and effective way to combat them and keep hope alive! Leaders, who love their power and money will try to stop us, but it is our job to “keep on, keeping on”. Follow the example of Jesus, who faced such abusive leaders, yet he remained true to his mission, refused to submit to their ways, and his compassion changed the course of history. 

As yeast remains in the dough causing it to rise, we will make an impact when we live out stories and callings! Stay focused! Keep hope alive...

To those called to take in refugees, keep helping them, keep offering hospitality.

To those called to fight for prisoners in solitary confinement, keep representing them, keep writing letters.

To those called to preach to those rejected by the mainstream church, keep preaching, keep offering hope.

To those called to be violence interrupters, keep befriending those in need, keep taking those risks.

To those called to assist those with disabilities, keep lending an ear, keep giving your time, keep being compassionate. 

To those called to work with the homeless, keep housing, keep feeding, keep clothing, keep supporting, keep listening. 

We need to keep our focus and not ignore those in need. Whether it’s a woman living in a tent, a trans prisoner getting assaulted in a male prison, or a poverty-stricken fella about to get kicked out of his apartment, we can’t get distracted or surrender because of abusive and lying politicians. We got to live out our stories, by bringing change, revolutionary love, and hope into this hostile world. 

Why do I take photos of those formerly homeless holding keys to their new apartments? 
They are pictures of hope, showing that progress happens through everyday people supporting and loving one another. They show that we don’t need to be formed or corrupted by the yeast of gangster politicians, but that we can be our own yeast, bringing about redemption and forgiveness. These pictures show that change is possible, revolutionary love transforms those around us, and hope is real!