what if what is necessary is trusting people beyond their mistakes and shortcomings, trusting their best intentions — are we strong enough to default to trust at a community level? what if what is necessary is learning to see family where you have seen enemies? what if what is necessary is not strategy, not plans, not dollars — just unconditional love? are we able to be that militant? i want to be militant enough to admit i am changing and growing and don’t know the answers. my sister is about to have her second child, which has me contemplating and researching birth and labor again. after aiyana’s death i was thinking of how quickly you can violently kill someone, versus how long it takes to create and birth someone. i find a small but awe-inspiring hope in the realization that giving life and love is harder work than taking it. giving life and love and forgiveness and creating family — those are the behaviors to engage in to step into the miraculous. as we strive to free ourselves, to uplift ourselves, to transform ourselves and our communities, let us consider what “by any means necessary” looks like in practice for us now — especially if the outcome is unknown, immeasurable and unconditional; even if the means, at this moment, is militant love.
x Originally appeared in Luscious Satyagraha blog post May 19, 2010: www.adriennemareebrown.net.
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