Every few weeks I write President Trump, because it seems wrong to give up even though I’m far from the troubles and it would be very easy to ignore the world at large. Especially on a sunny day in August.
When I was on the Haines Borough Assembly, I learned that no one changes their mind when you call them a jerk. Myself included. Mary Poppins was right: a spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that. So a few days ago I took a different tack, from a position I’m pretty confident in, as a life-long church goer. In private, I may not be so measured, but, this is public, and I believe in putting my best self on the record. Plus, I read that the West Wing is apparently staffed with people who call themselves Christians and pray at their desks. ( Who wouldn’t?) I hope one of them might read this.
Dear President Trump,
As a Christian, I too am concerned about getting to heaven. It is not too late. That is the thing about Jesus, he will forgive us if we confess our sins and commit our lives to him. (As the parable of the vineyard owner paying his field hands explains.) There is one hitch: you must love God with your whole heart and you must love your neighbor as yourself. You must care for the poor, the destitute, widows and orphans, refugees. Joe Biden.
The other concern for you is that Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. I would suggest re-reading Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for inspiration. You are carrying heavy chains forged in life, Mr. President ,and you aren’t getting any younger. You can always watch the movie, since I know you like TV. I’m not being snarky here.
You are probably my greatest challenge as a Christian and why since you took office again I am even more committed to attending church. Lots of churches. Catholic, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Reformed Jewish, Yoga, Episcopalian, Methodist. The church of woods and sea and a long walk. Jesus also said to love our enemies. He says we must change not only our minds but our hearts. This is a real challenge with you and me. I fear my thoughts and sometimes words when I shout at the news, will keep me out of heaven, too. The things you say, post and do are often cruel, self-serving, boastful, and worse, ignorant. I really hope you change. (For my soul’s sake, the country’s and the world’s.) You can do it. It’s not too late. And believe me– if you suddenly cared for starving Gazans, Ukrainians, prisoners, homeless, brown people, the poor, LGBTQ+ people, stray dogs, the earth, whales, hummingbirds and Oprah — Jesus himself would notice and shine his love light on you. Look at St. Paul. The new Rose Garden patio could be the next road to Damascus. It could become a pilgrimage for the faithful. You’d be God’s biggest catch ever and really could win the Nobel Prize. It would be a stunning conversion that literally would change the world. You’d be bigger than Scrooge. Right now, I’m sorry to say, to quote a great theologian and best-selling Christian author — You are driving Jesus to drink gin out of the cat dish.
“May you have the grace and wisdom to act kindly, learning to distinguish between what is personal, and what is not…may you act not from arrogance but out of service.’– John O’Donohue, a blessing for a leader.
Sincerely,
Heather Lende
Then there came the heart crushing murders in the church. So this morning I sent another note:
Dear President Trump,
As the law and order president can you please direct all the energy and resources you have mustered to make D.C. safer and deporting immigrants to gun regulation? Saying your prayers are with the families of the latest victims is, sorry to say, meaningless without action. Prayers alone aren’t working. What good is it to say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? ( See James 2:14-26.) If you value children over gun ownership you will do something. If you respond to this shooting (and all the other gun inflicted mass murders) by banning assault weapons and making gun ownership much more restrictive, I will nominate you for the Nobel. Seriously.
Heather Lende
