On New Yearâs Day, I woke to light. That brilliant winter sunlight which is harsher and shorter than summerlight, but somehow also clearer. So clear itâs almost painful.
There is pain and sorrow ahead, but there is also joy and freedom. There is always already both things, all things. There is a long fight ahead, with many battles, many losses and victories. Here is my prayer for all of us in 2017:
We will appreciate each moment for what it is.
We will acknowledge our sufferings, and know that theyâre valid.
We will also acknowledge our joys, and know theyâre just as important.
We will arm ourselves for battle with the things that inspire and fortify our souls, with the words and actions of artists and activists that have come before and those that stand beside us.
We will shine like light on stained glass, prick the bastards with our glorious thorns.
We will fight, fight, fightâââfight oppressors, fight the voices in our own heads that tell us to give up, fight any pessimism internal or external that says we should shut up, give up, that what we do doesnât matter.
It matters.
And we will not be goodâââwe will be great.
We will not be silent.
We will not behave.
Jessie Lynn McMains, from âagainst silence, for lightâ (which can be read on medium.com or recklesschants.net)
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