Deep Enough — The Third Characteristic of the Climate Movement
Olympian Fields of Action Series: Post #7
To keep ourselves on our Olympian Fields of Action for the long haul, to make the impossible possible and the possible actual and the actual beautiful and our future come faster, we must understand and embrace how climate action is connected to what we cherish, to our deeply held values and relationships. We must tap into deep reservoirs of support and motivation. We must be deep enough, our third characteristic/imperative/Movement-building goal.
For whom, specifically, are you trying to create a better world? See them in your mind’s eye. Say their names out loud. Pull out or bring up their pictures and look at them. As a Climate Action Athlete you train for them. You put in the hard work for them. You’re engaged on your Fields of Action for them.
But we are also fighting for those we don’t know — especially the vulnerable and those yet to be born. On all of our Fields of Action we are fighting for justice — to stop bad stuff, set wrong right, and make things better. We have affirmed the Better Future Covenant, to create a better future for children and subsequent generations because it is their due.
We also must build a strong web of relationships that support us (discussed more fully in the “Together Enough” sub-series of posts, forthcoming).
Finally, we must all ask ourselves some of the deep questions in life and reflect on how they are connected to climate action:
What do I think makes life meaningful?
What do I think life is all about?
What are my strongly held values?
Why do I think climate action is the right thing to do?
How does remaining faithful to climate action help me to live out my values, to have a life of integrity and worth, to make a difference?
These may not be easy questions to answer. But I encourage everyone to write down your answers.
Some of you action types may feel we don’t have time for this navel-gazing. Believe me, I understand! But we must recognize that this long-term problem requires long-term action.
Or you may be tempted to dismiss these questions as too touchy-feely. You must have the courage to overcome any such discomfort.
Or you may think they are too private to share. Well they can’t be so private that you don’t even share them with yourself!
If you resist answering I would strongly encourage you to find the courage and the energy and the patience necessary to do so. It may take you awhile, but it will be worth it. We must have Climate Movement Athletes whose commitment is deep enough for the long haul, ready to give it your all and run the race with perseverance.
The L-word
For me, the deepest source of both passion and perseverance, and what binds them together, is the L-word — easily spoken by some, hardly ever uttered by others. While it must be recognized to actualize its full potential, it doesn’t have to be spoken by everyone to be tapped into.
Psst. What is the L-word?
The L-word, love, our most important Movement Value, is the reservoir from which we are sustained as we make hope happen and our future come faster on all our Olympian Fields of Action.
Love contains hope; love sustains multitudes; love carries us forward; love lives in the hard places; love is the wellspring of justice; love is a promise to the future that we will create a better world.
Love is the ultimate source of power that creates and sustains us as a moral movement as we work to stop bad stuff, set things right, and make things better, as we make the impossible possible and the possible actual and the actual beautiful and our future come faster.
Love’s power and vulnerability can be scary. That’s when we must love together, which is the secret of our success.
In joining together to be deep enough we must combine love and justice with our other Movement Values: beauty, freedom, creativity, wisdom, pragmatism, non-violence, sustainability, and success.
If you are new here, check out our Intro Series. If you like this post, please “like,” comment, and share. And thanks for all you’re doing.