Do not get lost in a sea of despair. 

Do not become bitter or hostile. 

Be hopeful, be optimistic. 

Never, ever be afraid to make some noise 

and get in good trouble, 

necessary trouble. 

We will find a way to make a way out of no way.

          ~the ever beautiful, John Lewis 

I have often found that people who have suffered the most in this world are the most optimistic about how their trials will be resolved. We all know how a young John Lewis grew up in a segregated society in which some people deemed him to be inferior to people of the white race. In his role as a Freedom Rider he was spat upon and physically injured. A lesser man might have given up entirely but he steadfastly worked for equality and justice for all people, eventually becoming a beloved Congressman.

Sadly there are still people suffering both in the United States and all over the world. Sometimes it feels as though despair is the only emotion sufficient enough to handle the feelings of disappointment in the reality that we humans still don’t seem to understand the importance of valuing every person as someone deserving of the same freedoms and opportunities that so many of us enjoy. Reading the words of John Lewis is inspiring and a roadmap for the patience and determination that we must have as we work for a better and better world. 

Congressman Lewis cautioned us to eschew bitterness and hostility, a way of reacting to unfairness that is particularly tempting when the bullies who create the divisions and inequality are sometimes brutal in their beliefs that some people are innately inferior to the rest of us. They do not value the sameness that we all share in wanting to live in a way and a place where we can be ourselves and demonstrate our willingness to work hard to progress from the limitations of our lives. Anger at being misjudged and spurned is a logical defensive mechanism that surely comes to mind when actions and words are belittling of our intentions and abilities. 

Some humans have demonstrated prejudices again and again. They make assumptions about people based on superficial traits like the color of skin or places where people were born. It can be difficult to overcome hatred the way that John Lewis so remarkably did. He understood his own worth and that of the people for whom he spent his life representing. Sometimes his hopefulness led him to dangerous situations, the good and necessary trouble of which he often spoke. 

There have been other heroes in history who made good trouble for humankind. Ghandi comes to mind along with Nelson Mandela. Both men spent time in jail for their troubles. Ghandi was ultimately killed. We might make an endless list of such people if we carefully study history. In the Catholic Church such souls are often canonized as saints. We erect statues in their honor but sometimes, before their messages are fully appreciated by society they are unsung martyrs for causes much grander than most of us consider. 

I am particularly drawn to the optimism of John Lewis because in today’s world there is a kind of feeling that we are about to revert to darker times when entire groups of people were ostracized from societies or subjugated because of physical traits. John Lewis would urge us to find a way to change such attitudes when there seems to be no way to create a more loving world. 

Sadly religion itself is too often used as valid reason for denying the worth of others. There is much misjudging happening all around us. Perhaps when we see this we need to have the courage to engage in the kind of good trouble that is necessary to change such thinking. It can be frightening and daunting to consider defending those who are often unable to defend themselves. 

I think of Jesus and the incredible life that He led. If ever there was someone who got into good and necessary trouble it was He. His short life was dedicated to inclusionary lessons. He demonstrated with his actions that nobody should be spurned. He embraced lepers and befriended outcasts. Nothing in his parables and words was meant to divide us or rank us. In his eyes each person was a beautiful creation worthy of love. He was a revolutionary force Who was punished for his efforts . He engaged in necessary trouble hoping that we would learn from Him.

We might all do well to consider the plight of the most reviled among us and determine how we might help them to be accepted and appreciated. Surely we must see that demonizing any group without knowing them just because we do not understand them goes against the laws of goodness and kindness. Instead of telling people to go away we might begin to consider the idea of really seeing them, talking to them and learning what they need to feel as free and fortunate as we are. It’s time we swim out of the sea of despair and do what we know deep down in our hearts is right. A dose of good trouble would be great for all of us.