![]() ![]() Jesus, on the other hand, remained at the friendly distance of a dear acquaintance. You see, my Trinitarian image of God had always been a bit lopsided: God and the Holy Spirit were intimately familiar in my prayer life and in my spirituality. In retrospect this should have been a no-brainer (Society of Jesus, ahem!), but when it first dawned on me it was an uneasy realization. ![]() Then, in September - with everything already locked-in at a center in Colorado - it became clear to me that the exercises, the discernment, the entire retreat would revolve around the life of Jesus Christ. While the legislative timeline was wrong, scheduling the retreat in November was spot-on. By end of year 2021, I figured, the legislative process for our capstone bills would have run its course, so I would time my retreat accordingly. Based on prior spiritual direction with a Jesuit priest, I sensed a resonance with their spirituality so I decided to pursue the idea. It sounded like exactly what I was looking for. Then a colleague suggested the 30-day Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, describing it as a transformational discernment process. But crafting an intentional exit plan and exploring different ministry options seemed like an impossible luxury given the relentless pace. Sooner rather than later I would need to create an off-ramp for self-preservation. ![]() My goal each day was to step away from my computer to go on a walk or take a lunch break, but the truth is that some days I failed to even brush my teeth until 4 p.m.īy early 2021 I was painfully aware that the stress of the ministry and the neglect it meant for my spiritual well-being was not sustainable. A friend once described the workday as "future dystopian robot world," which struck a chord. With the onset of the pandemic, I spent hour upon hour, day after day in back-to-back meetings and lobby calls from my bedroom. ![]() 6 insurrection the ministry took on an existential import and weighed even heavier on my spirit. Particularly with COVID-19, the 2020 election and then the Jan. Since taking my first vows in 2017 I've been engaged in the fast-paced, high stakes, emotionally charged and relentless occupation of pushing Congress to protect our fragile democracy. If they're smart enough to read the tea leaves of the movement exploding under them, it's really a no-brainer.After nearly five years, my ministry in federal advocacy is going in a new direction. Huddled in Philadelphia, the Democratic establishment will finally have its come-to-Jesus moment: stay married to corporate money or return to its first love-the American middle class. The months-long trend of Sanders beating Trump by far wider margins than Clinton will continue-maybe even expand.Īnd most importantly: the optics of going with the candidate limping into the convention backed by the Democratic Party's past instead of its future possessing record unfavorable ratings who'll struggle to pick up young Sanders supporters versus the movement candidate polling the best against Donald Trump who will turn out young voters and Independents and who's the only candidate left with a positive favorability rating. He'll also get a tsunami of small-dollar donations that will help his campaign in its sales pitch to superdelegates. Hillary Clinton-whose big-money donors from Wall Street, corporate America, K Street, and other special interests have served as her political oxygen throughout her career-lauded Sanders for challenging the Party on unaccountable money.īut, a win in California, coupled with other probable wins in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and possibly in New Mexico will help Sanders shrink that gap. Sure, party leaders and lawmakers have delivered good lip service. The same Democrat whose policies in the 1930's and 40's led to the strongest decades of economic equality and prosperity for the majority of Americans-as opposed to those at the top-in the 1950's and 60s.Īnd the Democratic Party and establishment, who beginning in the 1970's decided to begin a pivot away from the working class and New Deal era in favor or wealthier suburbanites and corporatists, has fought Sanders every step of the way. The Democrat whose New Deal programs led to the creation of the American middle class. You know, the Democrat who brought America back from the brink of economic calamity. Quite the contrary from some radical, "pie in the sky" revolutionary, Sanders is actually an FDR Democrat. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lowerįor all the punditry about the Vermont Senator's historic rise (or lack thereof), a simple truth has been missing. Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit ![]()
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