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What Do We Do Now?

Lynn Oldham Robinett


I have never been someone who opens my mouth and has eloquent words flow forth. I am not the first to respond to questions and often stumble over what I want to say and how to say it. It’s not that I don’t have deep thoughts in my mind, it’s that it takes me a while to process them, and I usually don’t have a quick response. Which leads me to where we are today.


As I read the newspapers last week, the announcements in my MIC inbox, and yes, believe it or not, my feed on Facebook, I realized that I was overwhelmed by information. I had to take time out to process everything before I could figure out what to say. For the past year we have been bombarded with rhetoric and now some of that rhetoric is being put into action. As communities who believe in a greater power and who treasure the sacredness of our earth and all the people who live on it, we hold dear things that appear to hold no value to others. As individuals and as congregations, how do we respond to these challenges to our values? How can we continue to do the work we feel called to do to serve our communities? 


I think it’s important to think about what we can and can’t control, and use that as our starting point. We cannot control other people, or the actions they take. We can control how we respond and how we channel our sadness, our anger, and our fear. The more we focus on what is within our power to do and join with others who have the same values, the more power we have. MIC was founded over 40 years ago in response to the immediate needs of the Marin community. Religious leaders came together to provide relief to those in need, and realized that the resulting relationships were worth developing and growing.


We are in the midst of what some would consider an emergency. The sustainability of our environment, the safety of our neighbors who have migrated here from other parts of the world, the health and care of our transgender friends, are threatened in renewed ways, and faith communities in Marin are stronger together than separately. As the Marin Interfaith Council, this is why we exist. It isn’t just to sit idly by and enjoy the wonderful interfaith programs that we put together (and I will add that they are wonderful so if you haven’t been joining us, you might want to start). We are here to celebrate our faith, advocate for justice, and build community, not division. 


MIC has been a convener of congregations and individuals who seek to create a world that is enriched by our presence. The Network of Accompaniment Congregations came together because of a commitment to respect the dignity of every human being and offer assistance in whatever way possible to newcomers in our midst. The Marin Interfaith Climate Action and Project Adapt bring together people of faith who seek to implement necessary changes for healthy life in our earthly home. These groups, among others, remain active and committed to working to protect and heal our world. 


Now is a time for prayerful action. If you or your congregation would like to be a part of this spiritual work at this moment in time, please reach out to me at director@marinifc.org. Our diversity of belief and opinion can only make our community stronger in these trying times.


Rev. Lynn Oldham Robinett

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