We are addicted to Donald Trump and President Trump is an Addict!
He is the Opiate to the people who love him and those who dislike him! The Republican controlled Congress,Vice President Pence, the Cabinet members and his family are his enablers and his ‘base’ along with the media are his dealers. If we are to stay true to our Constitution and the spirit upon which the United States of America was founded on- we have to be in Recovery from Donald Trump.
As I watch the news each day on TV and read the newspapers each day, I am finding myself more and more addicted to President Trump’s daily rantings and those of his minions. Being in Recovery for almost 30 years and working in the field for all of my recovery, I find myself getting into the same mode of panic and relief. When speaking with friends, congregants, reading Twitter, Facebook, etc. I see almost everyone in the same mode. Why??
Being in Recovery has taught me how to deal with life on life’s terms as AA teaches. Being a Rabbi and deeply involved in my faith has taught me to live in Radical Amazement, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel teaches. I am deeply aware of what is an authentic awareness of what really is and how we get stuck in conventional notions and mental cliches. Being in Recovery/Living a life of Faith means that each situation is new, I can’t take things for granted and I can’t be indifferent to the sublime wonder of living. All of these teachings of Rabbi Heschel are serving me in fighting off the ups and downs of living in the Trump Era.
The first step of AA could be written this way: We are Powerless over Donald Trump and our lives have become unmanageable.
The first step of Living a Life of Faith could be: I am a Holy Soul and I partner with God to manage my life.-
Both of these steps get us to the same place, in my opinion. We get to regain control of our thinking, acting, emotional and spiritual inner life. This is the first step to breaking our addiction to Donald Trump. It is of utmost importance for all of us to regain control of our thinking and our spirit so we can stop being controlled and manipulated by the Chaos that is Donald Trump.
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The second step of Living a Life of Faith could be: I know that hearing the call of God/my soul is always telling me the next right action to take and I commit to hearing and acting on my soul’s knowledge.
This is the next right action after taking the first step. I no longer am going to be moved to despair and/or rage and/or euphoria based on what Donald Trump is saying or doing/tweeting today/this moment. I am going to stay grounded in God, faith and my soul’s knowledge.
The third step of Living a Life of Faith could be: I will not take anything in my life for granted and will live in Radical Amazement.
Too often we think that we know things and forget to be surprised. I heard a story about Rabbi Heschel beginning a talk with these words: “a great miracle just happened… the sun went down.” What a wonderful way to experience the world. Each day, each moment is new and, as Rabbi Heschel teaches: “there is something sacred at stake in every event.” I can’t see the sacred when I am taking life for granted. Radical Amazement, the maladjustment to conventional notions and mental cliches, prevents me from ever giving in to my/our default ways of living. Many people say “this too shall pass” when speaking about Donald J. Trump. While that is true, what is left after he has finished his chaotic hostage taking of America and the world, Putin, Kim Jung Un, etc? Is this the world we want to live in?
The fourth step of Living a Life of Faith could be: I will fulfill my Covenant with God, family, community and live my unique purpose that I was created for.
Each of us has a word of God within us. Each of us is created for a special job that God has sent us on a mission to fulfill. Each of us is unique, has infinite worth and is equal to all in dignity and value. This step is both acknowledging this Spiritual Truth and making the commitment to live/lean into this truth through action. It is time for us to remember that it is impossible to call ourselves people of faith, God’s messengers when we go against the basic principles and values of God. 36 times in the first five Books of the Bible we are told to care for the stranger, the widow the orphan and the poor. Jesus helped the poor and the outcast. All faith traditions/spiritual disciplines give us paths to God, wholeness and community. All of our tradition teach us how to live together in peace, cooperation and love. This is the Covenant that God made with us through Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, this is the Covenant of Enlightenment, I believe also.
50+ years ago, Rabbi Heschel said: “In a free society, some are guilty all are responsible.” Leviticus says: Don’t stand Idly by the blood of your brother and bear no guilt because of it. We, the people, need to tell those who say this is a Christian Country, NO- this is America where Freedom of Religion reigns. We, the People, need to tell those who say the Press is the Enemy of the People, NO — this is America where Freedom of the Press reigns. We, the People need to tell those who say it is okay to lie and govern through Chaos, NO- this is America where the rule of law reigns.
We have the power to be in RECOVERY FROM DONALD TRUMP! We have the paths to achieve this recovery. We need community to achieve this recovery, however. Our community is made up of people who are willing to wrestle with each other to find the solution to all of our challenges. Our community is made up of people with differing opinions, faiths, solutions, needs, etc. Our community has one purpose, to recover the basic decency that is America, to recover the hope, dreams, joy, openness and Freedoms that Make America Great. We can do this, the question is whether we will do this. Will you join me and so many others who are in RECOVERY FROM DONALD TRUMP??
