Comments on: Activism, Religion, & Despair: What Would Jesus Buy?

By: rob

rob — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:06:00 +0000

one’s current enlightenment is the high peak of many many years of ingesting the Word of God. Commencing each day at 4am, eating, drinking and breathing the Word of God enjoying the most precious and wonderful person of Christ and His marvelous accomplishments on behalf of us (fallen humanity). While enjoying Him, I am being organically constituted with His life and nature, and ultimately will bear His Image. In the meantime, living by His life by exercising one’s spirit the outworking being a continual living and confessing of Him and all that living Him entails! Praise be to His wonderful name. Amen!

By: daharja

daharja — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:27:00 +0000

You inspire me. Every time I read your blog, you inspire me.

Not just to think, but to act.

I've stopped using plastic water bottles, and stopped using plastic wrap. We use re-usable bags at the supermarket, and choose products in glass rather than plastic when at all possible.

I've also boycotted several products that use unnecessary packaging (plastic), and written to several companies telling them why.

I'm acting, and you're inspiring me to do so.

So don't despair. Just because we don't tell you we're out here doesn't mean we're not.

Have a little faith. Change is everywhere, even where you can't see it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Not directly related to the post, but I love your new blog look :0)

(though I will miss the picture of little fishies).

~kt

By: jennconspiracy

jennconspiracy — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:45:00 +0000

I only blog stuff that interests me. And I blog stuff to keep track of my progress or activities on something (like garden progress).

The world is in a terrible state – we’re really screwing it up. I won’t have kids because I think that the planet doesn’t need more people and am thinking about an exit strategy for when I get to that point where I’ll be feeble and dependent. (seriously, how long do you want to stick around past your ability to enjoy and be useful? Until you become “Soylent Green”? I know – this is probably not helpful).

Most of the people in this country shop at Wal-mart and Target for everything from clothing to groceries. That makes me ill. I don’t feel like what I’m doing is making an impact on anything – but at least I’m doing what I can. I guess that’s all you can do.

By: Kristina

Kristina — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Despair is such a harsh fact in our reality. Who does not struggle? Who does not find despair, at some level or another? Believe it or not, I actually find comfort in our shared despair. I am not alone. I am not the sole human struggling, wondering, taking missteps, trying again to make a difference. That others despair remind me of my connections, and this offers great comfort in the midst of chaos.

But beyond that, I keep going because I'm certain that I must. For me, it's about tossing perfectionism to the wind, and allowing myself great joy for every small victory. When I smile at the sales clerk and say, "No thank you, I brought my own bag," it's a victory. When I scrub my sink shiny with baking soda, it's a victory. When I walk to my daughter's preschool instead of driving, allowing her to pick daisies all the way, it's a victory. When I recognize people at my local farmer's market, it's a victory.

Are these small things enough? Of course not. Not nearly enough. But they are SOMETHING, and they feel good.

That's all it is for me. It feels good to make these changes. I could focus on what is wrong, and get nowhere. I'm trying to focus on what I can do right, and this excites me.

What's more, when I get something right (reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, etc.), I'm inspired to do it again, or to do it better, because I want that feel-good feeling again.

And as for every breath being precious....yes. Three years ago I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, and I've fought hard to get where I am (and had good luck to arrive where I am without recurrence). Every BREATH is a victory. Every breath with purpose is a double victory. I'm sticking with that, and smiling, despite the despair.

By: Michelle Verges

Michelle Verges — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Fabulous post, Beth. And great comments, too! My take on despair follows in part from Kierkegaard, the Father of Existentialism - To paraphrase, we need despair to serve as a conflicting force against our beliefs. In this respect, the tension produced between despair and belief offers us a motivating opportunity to hopefully use our beliefs (and actions) to overcome that despair.

Perhaps too philosophical, but at least it provides me with insight as to why despair is part of human nature.

:0)
M

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:05:00 +0000

Beth, What keeps me going is people like you! Colin, Crunchy, Ed, etc. keep me going. I know that there are people like me, who care so damn deeply that it hurts! My 5 YO was at a slumber party where the mom was using wipes every three seconds (her son’s face, clorox wipes on the counter, shiver). He said to her “Matthew’s mom, why don’t you just use a washcloth?” One down, zillions to go. That little guy (and also my son who teases me that he wants a hummer) are what keep me marching forward, one less plastic bag at a time.Keep on, soldier Beth! Next time you go to Disneyland, come camp at our house, I am as plastic free as possible! JenK from Huntington Beach, CA

By: Gruppie Girl

Gruppie Girl — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:37:00 +0000

Beth~ A little off topic for this post, but can you help me with my Kenmore water filter?
I just removed the filter from my fridge and there are no recycling directions on the package. I have emailed the company, but not yet heard back.
Will this filter be religated to the land fill with it's Britta cousins?

By: Green Bean

Green Bean — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:55:00 +0000

There is some proverb about how you cannot begin to grow until you hit bottom. I do think despair can be motivating. However, I cannot wallow in it or, like you, I’d lay in my bed all day eating chocolate. I cannot dwell too long on dying bats and bees or melting ice caps. I am doing what I can, everything that I can – this blog, a green book club, a member of my city’s green task force, a buying club (soon to be over) as well as thousand of individual lifestyle changes. That is all that I can do and so it will have to be enough because there is simply not more that I can do.

By: Aurora

Aurora — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:36:00 +0000

wow! lately I feel like most of the people (in the US anyway) are fiddling away while the Earth burns or sinks…I find myself saying all the time–”there will be no economy on a dead planet” and I do feel despair…how do I cope? it is the day to day living that keeps me going— and the knowledge that in August I will be seeing a new Grandbaby (my first) and I do want the world to be a place he can still live in…I have also learned over the years that each little action–each seed you plant, does make a difference–maybe not right away–but somewhere down the lin–like a ripple effect. Have you read Paul Hawkin’s book–”Blessed Unrest, How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice and Beauty to the World” ? I highly recommend this book if you are feeling despair…
and I keep in mind this quote from one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver:
“One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice..” I think your blog–and your activism–are wonderful example of that. Think of how many lives you are touching with this blog!

I have had this experience a few times in my life–and I started a big project—which involved many people–which eventually became a life changing experience for me and many of the folks who participated— and also taught me that those little efforts can make a big difference…