We, the Brokenhearted Millions
A Hopeful Response to the Growing Madness of the World
“Let us in all the troubles of life remember — that our one lack is life — that what we need is more life — more of the life-making presence in us making us more, and more largely, alive. When most oppressed, when most weary of life, as our unbelief would phrase it, let us bethink ourselves that it is in truth the inroad and presence of death we are weary of. When most inclined to sleep, let us rouse ourselves to live. Of all things let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. It is the life in us that is discontented; we need more of what is discontented, not more of the cause of its discontent.” — George MacDonald
This is my favorite quote from George MacDonald, and one to which I frequently return whenever I feel the cloying fumes of the world begin to choke the life from my lungs, and wear down my resolve until it seems some days I don’t even want to breathe anymore.
I am so very weary of this madness — these social contagions that turn our days into the cheapest and most garish displays of reality show warfare. We have obliterated any memory of character as a quality we genuinely value or are willing to fight for beyond its utility as a political game piece. We have exchanged character for outrage, sensemaking for sensationalism, and worst of them all, love for disgust.
The days are dark, and getting darker.
It is in just such times as these that I find MacDonald’s words so essential to my life. For in such times as these, my natural inclination is to hide myself away: Make of my life as small a target as possible, in the hope that the bullets and bombs that fly through the mad dark may if I’m lucky spare my little corner of the world. But MacDonald reminds me that making that choice can never bring me the life or peace I desire. For if I cower, if I hide and pretend it’s not really happening or not right here anyway so what does it matter, am I not playing right into the same fear narrative that is turning the whole world mad?
In times of growing darkness, it is not more darkness that is needed. It is light.
In times of growing fear, it is not more fear that is needed. It is love.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.” — 1 John 4:18a
I’m writing this to you brave ones out there; you who see the madness and have let it break your heart wide open. I want you to know my heart has broken open too … and that I do not believe there are only a few of us.
I believe we number in the millions.
We, the brokenhearted millions, are a force for Good to be reckoned with in the messy middle of all this crazy.
We are, or can be, powerful lights in the dark.
“The soul needs living models to grow, exemplars with the expansive energies of love. People who are eager to love change us at the deeper levels. They alone seem able to open the field of both mind and heart at the same time. When we’re in this different state—and that is what it is—we find ourselves open to directions or possibilities we would never allow or imagine before.” — Fr. Richard Rohr
This is what I want to remind you of, and to remind myself:
That love is the answer here. Love is the way through. Love is the way out.
God's Strategy is Love
The world has been turned on its head in recent years—but I don’t have to tell you that. Record heat in multiple nations around the globe. Unprecedented storms and floods in many regions. A pandemic in all of them. Civil unrest. Economic stress. Resource depletion. Distrust of government. Political divisions that just seem to keep getting worse.
This is not a time to hide away, or play small, or join the mad circus of suspicion and fear.
This is an opportunity to be an exemplar of love. Not perfectly, of course; no one’s asking that. And not for everyone everywhere; that’s too much burden for any of us to bear. But for those in your world. For those who are yours, you have an opportunity. No, stronger than that. A holy summons. A beautiful beckoning from Divine Love.
To be a light in the dark. To show the world a different way. To make this your practice, every day:
When others choose fear, stand firm in love.
When others choose hate, stand firm in compassion.
When others choose suspicion and the rush of vain imaginings, stand firm in wisdom and sound reasoning.
And when others choose panic, stand firm in presence, and in peace.
To be an exemplar of the light you want to see in the world.
To light a torch in the night and say, “This is the Way. Let’s walk in it.”
And to know that torch is your heart. Broken. And blazing with Life.
Thanks, Michael, for your wisdom and encouraging words. The fact that you are in the battle alongside me, and the millions of others, gives me courage and hope as the darkness lurks very close to my soul. May our Light and Love be the subversive and unexpected way to bring truth, conviction, protection and the peace that millions of long for. Come Lord Jesus.
We are not alone; there are millions of us…despite what the darkness suggests. What an empowering and necessary reminder.
There IS strength in numbers.