Love Is an Act of Resistance

i am choosing to resist

Friends.

The other day I dropped a Substack note that very simply said …

Searching for the goodness of every human being is an act of resistance in these days.

Do you feel that?

I do.

And I say that because (to me, it seems) there’s immense pressure these days to conform …

To conform to hating.

To conform to judging.

To conform to making massive assumptions about those our “side” or “group” or “tribe” deems to be “the other”.

And if you dare question this?

If you dare wonder out loud, “maybe there’s another way to be? Maybe there’s another way to hold our values? Another way to move through the world? Another way to work towards a better future?”

Like …

“Is it possible to hold our beliefs while also being more curious of the beliefs of someone else? The values of someone else? The religion of someone else? The political views of someone else?”

“Is it possible to be just as grounded in our values and ideals while also wondering about the values and ideals of someone else?”

“Is it possible to demolish the categories of ‘us’ and ‘them’ so that there is just ‘us’? Or ‘us’ and ‘us”?

“Is it possible for us all to be ‘us’ even if we see things differently? Does Oneness and Unity require us to see everything the same? Is there room for ambiguity? For differences? After all, the ocean is made up waves … isn’t every wave different? And yet isn’t every wave part of the ocean? Is it possible for the same to be true of ‘us’? Might we all be different with different views and beliefs … and yet all part of the same Divinity that’s pulsing through the universe?”

“Is possible for us to not see eye to eye, but to move forward arm in arm - in an effort to make life better for all?”

“And if some of ‘us’ aren’t willing to get past not seeing eye to eye and going forward arm in arm, is it possible to bless those parts of ‘us’ on their journey and hope their own intuitive voice guides them to bring goodness to the world?”

“Is it possible to disagree and still love?”

“Is it possible to disagree and still hope the best for those of ‘us’ we disagree with?”

Phew. I mean.

You start asking questions like that and wondering out loud about that sort of stuff, and you get shot at. Whether you’re Conservative or Progressive, if you start trying to build bridges and recognize the humanity in “the other side” (the side that your side says is bad, evil, stupid, etc.), you’re gonna make “your side” unhappy.

In some cases …

Your values will be questioned.

Your intentions will be questioned.

Your dedication will be questioned.

Your heart.

Your motives.

… it’ll all be put on trial for the social media masses to feed upon.

And that’s OK, you know? Not everyone needs to be where you are, and you don’t need to be where everyone else is. There’s freedom here - freedom to embrace your journey, be true to where you are, and trust that some how and in some way, we’re all making our way forward … becoming a little bit more of who we truly are every single day.

I’m learning to bless those who celebrate my journey, and bless those who don’t.

And so, yes, as I said the other day - in these times … I think that love and choosing to see the goodness of each person are acts of resistance.

May we have the courage to resist.

• Glenn || PATREON / ART STUDIO