December 09-A, 2022

**Crater Lake Sunrise 04 05/28/2009 Oil Paint Rendered — Crater Lake, National Park, Kalmath, Oregon**

What form does your protest take?

I strive to see things as they are
and keep going,
keep looking--
in an "Anyway,
nevertheless,
even so" kind of way.

It is like this:
If this is the best we can do 
as a species over time,
we should be ashamed.
And, if this is not the best we can do
as a species over time,
we should be ashamed.

And disgusted.
And humiliated.
Etc.
At the very idea
that this is it--
that "this is all there is"!

The very idea!

Who couldn't look at the human scene
and fail to see how it could be better
in 10,000 ways?

At any point in time!

We have settled for less
than we are capable of!
We have failed, even, 
to live in protest!

The least we can do 
is acknowledged the situation as it is,
and live in protest!
Ashamed!
Humiliated!
Etc.!

We have created the arts
as compensation,
as distraction,
as amens
as atonement
for our failure to do better/more--
as if to say, "Here's this..."

We have created the arts in protest.
As witness!
Anyway!
Nevertheless!
Even so!

And the arts become balm,
solace,
consolation...

We produced The Blues!
Etc.!

What form does your art take?
There is your protest!
There is your offering!
There is your witness!

At least, there is that!
Of that, we can be proud!
Carry on!
Carry on!

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Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts