for those who refuse to be quiet…
bless you
who show up anyway
with a sign in your hands
and a knot in your stomach
and a voice that shakes but still speaks
bless you
who are tired of being told to be patient
to trust the process
to accept what should never be normal
bless you
who love this world too much
to pretend that what is happening is fine
may your anger be named holy
alive and honest
born from love and grief
holding hands
not something you have to hide
may your outrage remind you
that your heart still works
that you have not gone numb
that you are finding a way
bless you
who organize rides and meals and care
who write the emails
make the calls
learn the laws
watch each other’s backs
bless you
who step into streets and meetings and courtrooms
knowing the system was not built for you
and still refusing to disappear
and bless you, too
who do not march in the streets
but still move the world
bless you
who document what others want erased
who write and photograph
who ask hard questions
who stay long enough to listen
and brave enough to answer
bless you
who explain patiently
who translate carefully
who return again and again
so truth does not get lost
bless you
who provide meals and shelter
childcare and rest
who give money
time
space
bless you
who cannot be visible for safety or survival
and still resist quietly
faithfully
may peace walk beside you
not the kind that silences
but the kind that steadies
may safety surround you
through community
through preparation
through shared care
may courage rise in you
especially when hope feels thin
and compliance feels easier
and the machine feels too big
and standing up becomes exhausting
may you be released from comparison
from guilt
from the lie that says there is only one right way
because revolution is built by many hands
many roles
many brave yeses
God sees the streets
and the back rooms
the megaphones
the spreadsheets
the late night texts
the anonymous donations
the unseen labor
that keeps people alive
nothing offered in love is wasted
nothing given for justice is forgotten
and when you go home spent
hoarse or quiet
aching in body or spirit
remember this
your refusal is faith
your presence is prayer
your care is resistance
your anger is not the opposite of love
it is proof that love is still alive
bless you
for standing
for staying
for believing another world is possible
even while trapped inside this one
amen