If you ever have the need to feel a little vulnerable, I’ve got just the job for you.
Find a super busy street corner at lunch hour on a weekday and hold a big sign for everyone to see. Bonus points if you choose a part of town that tourists have never heard of, but ambulance drivers and police know like the backs of their hands.
Make sure you really believe in whatever the sign says, because people will look. They’ll slow down as they read, and sometimes they’ll honk. Do they love your sign or hate your sign? It’s usually hard to tell.
I tried this today, and I actually enjoyed myself—once I hid behind my sunglasses.
My sign said Silence the Violence, and I walked around with three other women (also in sunglasses), all fellow members of Moms Demand Action. We try to support the passing of stronger common-sense gun legislation and encourage responsible gun ownership.
With work like this, it’s easy to wonder Does it do any good? People know about the problem of gun violence, don’t they? But today as I paced around, I heard a small voice behind me. “Miss? Miss?”
I’m sixty-one years old. I love being called Miss.
I turned around and met a lovely lady older than me. She’d parked and walked over just to ask if she could get a better look at my sign. “Of course!” I said. “I’d love to tell you all about it.” So we stood there on the sidewalk in front of the QT gas station with cars and trucks zooming by, and I explained who we were and why we were there.
“Hmm,” she said. “This really interests me. We’ve had discussions at my church about this problem.”
She told me what church she attends, and I’d been to that church. “In fact, one of your pastors is a friend of mine!” I invited her to a meeting, and introduced her to Darlene, who leads our Silence the Violence walks.
I even took off my sunglasses so I could see her properly.
I’ll need another sign for Saturday.
Are you going? I don’t really want to go to the protest. I’m an introvert and kind of a hermit. Not the troll kind. More like the kind who brushes her hair and puts on mascara and sits at her desk, drinking coffee and writing stories of her heart, never knowing if they’ll ever be published, but doing it anyway. Also, Annabelle died and her funeral is Saturday morning. I didn’t know Annabelle that well, but I love her daughter, Ruth, like a treasured niece. It’d be nice to go and then have the afternoon free to piddle and think about Ruth and her mom.
But I love my country too, so after I mourn Annabelle and hold up Ruth in my prayers, I’ll change into my yellow shirt and jeans. I’ll grab my sign and go mourn for what’s happening in the country I treasure.
Will it do any good?
I don’t know. It’s like writing my stories. Who knows if they’ll ever make a difference to the world. But it will make a difference to me. I’ll know that I voiced what was in my heart. That I didn’t sit by and let history happen.
I’ve heard there will be quite a crowd, all across the country, so there’s comfort in standing together.
But I’m taking my sunglasses, just in case.
Love this, Becky!!
Thanks, Liz!
I love this. Look at you getting out of your comfort zone. I can relate to so much of this beautifully written post – and like you, I too will be out on Saturday with my sign.
Thanks, Diane! I’ll be thinking of you with your sign in Ohio!
BECKY, Call me about BJC’s Christians against Christian Nationalism. Or check their website. Grassroots effort.
Hey Susan! Thanks for reading. I follow BJC’s work concerning Christian Nationalism and I agree–it is really concerning. We had the executive director, Amanda Tyler, speak at our church and it was good to learn more about it.
Love your thoughts about writing – know exactly how that feels – to write to satisfy the need to write within yourself. Do not care if anyone else ever reads it -just get it recorded and then it is there. Actually I often go back and read my own writings – remember how that felt – maybe I will need to feel like that again – memories.
Thanks, Mr. Neal! 🙂
Stephen and I will be marching again this Saturday. There were so many people last time, and they expect so many more this time. We joing others in Clayton, NC. My personality would choose not to, but I can’t expect others to step out while I pray, cry, and blow a fuse. Also, my deceased Daddy keeps telling me to act.
Good for you two! I so agree! 🙂
Love this Beck❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Lucy! 🙂
I am so proud of you Becky!
Aww. Love you, Daddy!