Today I got to practice speaking truth to power.
I joined about 75 United Methodists (mostly United Methodist Women) in Annapolis for the third annual Baltimore - Washington Conference Advocacy Days.
I've done advocacy before, but more at the national level, or via e-mail and phone. This was actually the first time I entered the MD House and Senate buildings.
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The main issues our group was advocating for this year were for stronger policies around domestic violence and human trafficking and for fair hiring practices for those who have a criminal record.
In addition to those three focus topics for the day, we also talked about firearm safety (and gun violence) and the death penalty.
I missed part of the morning session waiting for my delegate so I could tell him about our church's stance on the above issues, but alas he never showed up. I got a call this evening that he had expected me at a different time. Apparently there was a mix-up in communication.
I did however have a great meeting in the afternoon with my senator, who also happens to be the president of the Senate (which means - he has power!). He has joined the governor in pushing to get the repeal of the death penalty to the floor for a vote this session. I began our meeting by thanking him for that, and here's where it got interesting... the longer we talked, the more I questioned his actual views on the death penalty. I'm not sure he actually believes in or supports full repeal. I'm also not sure he's as "progressive" as he says... he's just much more progressive than most of Calvert County.
As we talked a few different things came up, including his family's links to the Confederates in the Civil War, the tobacco trade that used to sustain the entire state financially (and is still a prominent part of our county flag), and gun control today. It's amazing how much you can learn in a 10-15 minute conversation with someone.
While Senator Miller was showing me the many paintings, photographs and historical items in his office and telling me about his family's history in the county I suddenly found myself thinking about Babylon and Jerusalem... those who were exiled, those who stayed... These were just very brief flashes of thought as I listened to the Senator and pondered my place in this office. I really didn't have time to process any of them, but I do remember thinking that these were not "my people". I come from not just a line of "Yankees" (on my father's side), but Canadians (on my mother's side - Quebecois no less). Yet, at the same time, I think the Senator was more willing to listen to me because I was not a native to the land. I had different views than many in the land... and because I am now putting down roots and branching out, I may be able to help him influence more people to see things from a different perspective.
Now, as I read those last two sentences it almost sounds as if I'm putting myself in the place of a prophet (because we all know they work best somewhere other than in their own hometown). But honestly, it was so politically charged, even when we spoke of religion, I think, at least for him, faith had much less to do with it than politics did.
So what does this have to do with my call to justice?
I understand that I am advocating for those who cannot always advocate for themselves. I understand I am speaking truth to power... I'm just not all that sure that power is interested in listening to what I have to say.
I joined about 75 United Methodists (mostly United Methodist Women) in Annapolis for the third annual Baltimore - Washington Conference Advocacy Days.
I've done advocacy before, but more at the national level, or via e-mail and phone. This was actually the first time I entered the MD House and Senate buildings.
The main issues our group was advocating for this year were for stronger policies around domestic violence and human trafficking and for fair hiring practices for those who have a criminal record.
In addition to those three focus topics for the day, we also talked about firearm safety (and gun violence) and the death penalty.
I missed part of the morning session waiting for my delegate so I could tell him about our church's stance on the above issues, but alas he never showed up. I got a call this evening that he had expected me at a different time. Apparently there was a mix-up in communication.
I did however have a great meeting in the afternoon with my senator, who also happens to be the president of the Senate (which means - he has power!). He has joined the governor in pushing to get the repeal of the death penalty to the floor for a vote this session. I began our meeting by thanking him for that, and here's where it got interesting... the longer we talked, the more I questioned his actual views on the death penalty. I'm not sure he actually believes in or supports full repeal. I'm also not sure he's as "progressive" as he says... he's just much more progressive than most of Calvert County.
As we talked a few different things came up, including his family's links to the Confederates in the Civil War, the tobacco trade that used to sustain the entire state financially (and is still a prominent part of our county flag), and gun control today. It's amazing how much you can learn in a 10-15 minute conversation with someone.
While Senator Miller was showing me the many paintings, photographs and historical items in his office and telling me about his family's history in the county I suddenly found myself thinking about Babylon and Jerusalem... those who were exiled, those who stayed... These were just very brief flashes of thought as I listened to the Senator and pondered my place in this office. I really didn't have time to process any of them, but I do remember thinking that these were not "my people". I come from not just a line of "Yankees" (on my father's side), but Canadians (on my mother's side - Quebecois no less). Yet, at the same time, I think the Senator was more willing to listen to me because I was not a native to the land. I had different views than many in the land... and because I am now putting down roots and branching out, I may be able to help him influence more people to see things from a different perspective.
Now, as I read those last two sentences it almost sounds as if I'm putting myself in the place of a prophet (because we all know they work best somewhere other than in their own hometown). But honestly, it was so politically charged, even when we spoke of religion, I think, at least for him, faith had much less to do with it than politics did.
So what does this have to do with my call to justice?
I understand that I am advocating for those who cannot always advocate for themselves. I understand I am speaking truth to power... I'm just not all that sure that power is interested in listening to what I have to say.
Hmmm, maybe I have more in common with the prophets of old than I thought.
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