We do not have to be particularly focused on negative news to think that we live in a perilous time. On the contrary, it takes a particularly intense form of delusion to deny the realities of climate change, racism, authoritarianism, environmental degradation, transphobia, disinformation, and… I could keep going, but you get the idea. Like the bumper sticker says: if you are not outraged, you are not paying attention.
Rev. Charlie Ortman, our Senior Minister Emeritus, has said that ours is a congregation that shows up. I was reminded of this at a recent protest at the Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark on a Monday afternoon. Unitarian Universalist ministers made up almost half of the clergy; UU Montclair was represented by Revs. Anya, Scott, and Charles, myself, and a number of congregants. (I am not sure we can claim Michael Gilch, since he fills in only every once in a while as a guest musician for us … but he was there too.)
It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of such endeavors. If anything, only consistent efforts over time are likely to yield results. In the meantime, one thing we do know is this: the best antidote to fear is action. Keep showing up.