There's Room of North Carolina

If you know me well then you know that Sean Paul’s “Gimme the Light” is one of my favorite songs. While Mr. Paul is discussing a very different type of spark, I always like to joke that he’s actually performing a coded Christian anthem by emphatically declaring, “just give me the light!”

As we prepared for our first annual Winter Solstice Celebration, I would often play Sean Paul to amp myself up. Again, not actually a Christian song, but there is something to repeatedly telling the universe to give me the light, ease my pain and darkness – give me some light.

Similarly, if you know me then you know post-Marxist theories of markets interest me immensely Recently, I was reading about how Marxist theories often fail us, not only because they don’t fully account for race, but also because it never crossed Marx’s mind that one could be poor and also afford ice cream. At the time of his writing, ice cream was such a luxury that the thought that one could be in abject marginalization and enjoy ice cream was incomprehensible.

This reality would not only be a shock to Marx, but it’s also a shock to us if we are being honest. Many of us know the reality of constant struggle while also hitting the drive thru for our favorite coffee or treat. This is not to judge the decision of grabbing such treat, but to say that it is weird and discombobulating to be able to afford a daily coffee, but not a house.

This disconnect – that one can afford small ‘luxuries’ but does not have systematic power – produces the illusion that our material realities are better than those during the time of Marx. In reality, we know all things are relative. We’ve been told to believe that because we have ice cream, we are experiencing joy and pleasure, and thus we are ultimately okay.

We asked for revolution and they gave us dairy products!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Ben and Jerry’s; however, communal scraps of well-being in exchange for purchasing power doesn’t seem like a fair exchange.  

Our celebration was filled with familiar faces and guest, praise and worship, food and fun, and playful conversation. We threw into the fire that which needed to be burned and celebrated the return of the sun. Importantly, we were reminded that no weapon formed against us shall prosper!

Even when it feels like the weapon is going to prosper, it won’t because each of us stands as a shield for the other. We anchor our souls in hope, and each of us stands reflecting, protecting, and insulating our loved ones from the world as we move forward. Ultimately, our celebration was a reminder that we don’t have to settle for less when it comes to community. Instead, we can declare, “gimme the light!”  We can embrace the fullness of community and all it has to offer.

I am continually impressed by each and every one of you — thank you for the ways you help cover this space.