It’s taken me almost two weeks, but I think it’s time. More importantly, I think I’m finally ready.

Before the 2016 election, I wrote a rather cynical post advocating that we should all vote for trump so we could learn our lesson. Some agreed with me, but some of my clearer-headed friends decried my cynicism for the damage it would do to the nation; other of my friends declared that they didn’t have the luxury to be cynical.

Well, it came to pass: we elected the most unqualified person in the history of this country and he did all of the awful things we imagined, plus some no one ever dreamed could happen. In the next election, he was defeated and we thought that sanity had been restored.

Boy, were we wrong.

We’ve now elected him again and he’s doubling down on all the things he promised. His supporters cult is ever more strident and the racism, misogyny, bigotry, and intolerance are out in full force. It’s really easy to get discouraged, throw our hands up in despair, and start making plans to leave the country for some place where sanity reigns. I’m not going to do that; I’m going to do something very different:

I’m going to love them.

I’m going to love Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr., and, yes, even Matt Gaetz. Please note that I did not say I’m going to like them or approve of them.

How am I going to love people whose whole raison d’être is to destroy this country, to turn us into a dictatorship, and whose supporters cult members want a theocracy – as long as it’s compatible with their beliefs, of course – how will I do that?

I’m going to keep reminding myself that love – despite popular culture and starry-eyed lovers – is a verb. Love is action, not emotion. What’s more, I’m going to keep reminding myself of what I promised in my baptismal vows: to respect the dignity of every human being. And after reminding myself of these two important things, I’m going to pray for them (love) and I’m going to try very, very hard to remember that they are human and are children of God (respect their dignity).

I want to issue a couple of caveats here:
1. I will protest, publicly as I’m able, their acts that harm people and our nation. This could include marching in the streets, writing treatises, even opening my home to those who need a safe shelter. I will not stand idly by if it’s possible to protest.
2. I will always defend those who are defenseless or who are most in danger. I will continue to support LGBTQIA+ causes; marriage between committed couples regardless of gender; Black Lives Matter efforts; and provide shelter for anyone needing reproductive care.
3. I’m going to speak up when I encounter prejudice in any of its forms.
4. I’m going to fail spectacularly and often at doing these things because I’m human.

Finally, I want to say this: my way is not the way for everyone, not even everyone who identifies as Christian, as I do. We each have to find our way through this morass of an administration; this is mine. Seek a way to be positive. Find like-minded people to get you through the hard times. Reach out to those who are targeted. Be a force for good.

(For clarification, the God I worship is not the god that promotes the idea that Trump was “chosen;” not the god who rejects the immigrant, the person of color, the gay, trans, bi, nonbinary; not the god who allows people in power to exercise control over the lives of women. My God is loving and forgiving, accepts each of us as we are, sees each of us as Beloved. My God is the God of hope, of possibility. It doesn’t mean we won’t undergo trials and dark times, but Hope is the flame that we must keep burning even as we seek a better future.)