Rev. Colleen Irwin

Are you like me finding it difficult to holding on to hope in the daily chaos?  Lately, I wake up each day feeling an invisible weight pressing down. The political climate feels heavier than ever, and as a spiritual person, I find it hard to carry.

I watch the fear-mongering unfold, and it cuts deep. The constant attacks on our social safety nets, the brazen greed, the disregard for the rule of law—it all feels like an assault on the most vulnerable among us. I see political leaders (regrettably both parties) lining their own pockets while dismantling the protections that give people a fighting chance.

It’s exhausting.

For those of us who live by empathy and compassion, this feels deeply personal. We carry not just our own pain but the weight of the world’s suffering too. Compassion isn’t a choice for us; it’s our nature. But right now, it feels both like a blessing and a heavy burden.

Some days, I feel paralyzed by it all. The noise is deafening, the fear relentless. But in these moments, I remind myself to detach from the daily flood of updates. I step back, seek the truth beneath the noise, and trust my ability to think critically. Every headline cannot be taken at face value. I refuse to be swept away by the panic.

Remind Yourself

And I remind myself of this truth: It’s okay to pause. It’s okay to care for yourself.

We do not have to carry the entire weight of the resistance on our own shoulders. Small acts of kindness matter. They create ripples. They remind us and others that fear does not have to win.

So if you’re feeling paralyzed too, know this—you are not alone. Take time for yourself. Be the light in this dark time. Even the smallest flicker can break through the shadows.

The world needs our light more than ever.  Don’t give up, keep holding on to hope.

How are you holding up?

— Colleen