IrvinWithAnEye

11/07/2024

Ok. I’m back.

Had a lovely session with my psychiatrist this morning and a wonderful, peaceful evening prayer last night, a guitar jam session and several friends called and texted me throughout the day. I’m decidedly feeling a little less isolated, a little less sad. I’m feeling a little more seen, a little more hopeful that maybe, we might make it through the next four years.

I can say with great assurance and disappointment that I’ll be doubling my effort to remain encircled in my communities and will guard my own vulnerability with more self-care energy. My community is made up of people who support and underscore the Jesus movement, loving, supportive q***r people, folks who put compassion above capitalism. For those who who think that description is a little esoteric, here’s where I stand.

Of the energy of my daily life and work…

1. Does it feed the hungry?
• I will use the resources and privilege I have not only give nutrition and hydration to those in need, but also give energy and presence to those who hunger for safe space to explore questions and seek compassionate knowledge.

2. Does it heal the sick?
• I will use the the resources and privilege I have not only to help heal physical and mental sickness, but also to help reassure people that there are still 67 million people in the U.S. will do the same.

3. Does it clothe and shelter the poor?
• I will use the resources and privilege that I have to lift up those in financial difficulty as my resources will allow without putting myself or my husband in peril.

4. Does it love comfort and champion the marginalized?
• I will believe and support those whose existence has been reduced to a political talking point. I will love and honor marginalized people and create safe space for them to be their most authentic selves. I will stand up for people vocally and overtly when I see anyone being mistreated or disrespected. I will find and underline opportunities for laughter and light-heartedness and lean hard into them and deny my energy and vulnerability to those who seek to destroy compassionate presence.

I will condemn unchecked capitalism in all its forms. I will support local, mom & pop businesses. I will give away food. I will continue to greet people with the ASL sign of “I love you” 🤟🏼 and will bid people to be well and wish them peace. I will call out people and systems that do damage the body of Christ as I’ve come to understand the body of Christ.

Most of all, I will be kind and gentle with myself. I will forgive myself and do the above things for myself as I do them for others.

I think this is how we change the world. I think this is how we make a difference. I know these things are how I will seek to leave the world better than I found it.

This is the assignment. This is the need. These are the ways which I have been gifted to serve and be served.

We will get through this. We must do it together.

Peace to all who read this in the days, weeks and months to come.

11/04/2024

A friend of mine, who happens to be trans, posted this today. I’ve removed his identifiers and haven’t tagged him in this post. He gets way more than his share of numbskullery.

My prayer is that people will begin saying instead, “I love you. Please don’t let your political involvement impact your self-care.”

It’s personal. It always was. It always will be. The piece that is lacking in the “don’t take it personally” admonishment is compassion & love for and recognition of marginalized people. Without those key ingredients, it’s not so much an admonishment as much as it’s a tool for passive-aggressive silencing.

Here’s an example…

I love you. Please take care of yourself. ❤️

10/19/2024

09/30/2024

To my friends and neighbors who rent. Most renters insurance policies cover food loss.

If you have been without power and lost all the stuff in your fridge or freezer, make sure you inventory the contents and get a fair market value on the price of the food. Most food coverage begins at about $500.

https://www.policygenius.com/renters-insurance/does-renters-insurance-cover-food-loss/ #:~:text=Renters%20insurance%20will%20only%20cover%20your%20personal%20property,better%20idea%20about%20how%20much%20you%20are%20owed.

Renters insurance will cover the cost of spoiled food if your refrigerator or freezer is broken by a covered peril. However, your utilities company might also cover the loss, depending on the cause.

09/27/2024

The sound of the wind outside finally woke me up to a warm/dark apartment about an hour And yet, I’m grateful.

I’m grateful for any roof at all.

I gave up on sleep about 30 minutes ago and decided to go for a stroll around my complex.

I have friends who are getting much worse than we are in Savannah. Even 45 mile per hour wind is nothin to mess with. The feel of the rain stings your face as it’s driven into you by the wind. The sound of the wind sounds like a distant freight train going down the tracks.

In my apartment building the wind blowing through the cooridors sounds like foley wind in a 1930s cartoon. It’s really eerie. And yet I’m grateful.

I’m grateful for corridors to protect the apartment.

My husband is snoring right through it. I have one car on my head and one at my side as I lay in the bed, 3/4s awake. And I’m grateful.

I’m grateful that my husband and pets are safe and sound.

I haven't had tonight any candles yet. There's enough twilight from the surrounding town coming through the windows, such that it's keeping things lit enough where I don't stub my toes if I have to get up. And I am grateful.

Grateful that there is a possibility I might stub my toes…

Even in the midst of this terrible weather, I’m grateful. I hope that peace and safety and protection enfolds my friends and family here and to the east of me. I’m thinking of all of you. And I’m grateful.

I’m grateful that I have opportunity and peace enough to keep my loved ones and others who are much less fortunate, in the forefront of my mind.

07/25/2024

Dear people who watch Fox News…

This is a friendly reminder that Fox was forced to pay $750 Million for broadcasting misinformation and stated UNDER OATH that they are NOT a news provider.

07/17/2024

Don’t buy Pure Life Water or any water distributed by Nestle or BlueTriton.

06/27/2024

America sucks.

The U.S. Supreme Court rules state and local officials may take gifts and payments for steering contracts to grateful patrons.

06/23/2024

To my LGBTQ+ siblings… You are loved. I promise that you are.

In 2003 he became the first openly gay bishop in all of Christendom, when the Episcopal Church consecrated Gene Robinson the 9th bishop of New Hampshire. Dea...

06/10/2024

Sure…. My first inclination when I see an alligator is to FU***NG FEED IT!!!