Progress in justice demands that all of us are willing to live John Lewis’ mantra: “Get in trouble. Good trouble. Necessary trouble.” To speak truth to power depends on our willingness to get in trouble.
The many aspects of life, including but not limited to race, gender, age, and opportunity, are invitations to get in trouble. Whenever the need is to support equality and fight discrimination, we need to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble.
When You Are In Trouble
For you in times of trouble, here’s a story of hope
Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had an old mule. One day, the mule fell into a dried-up well. The well was deep, and the mule was heavy, and the farmer knew that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to lift the animal out. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer, while sympathizing with the mule, reluctantly concluded that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving.
Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially the old mule was hysterical, but as the farmer and his neighbors continued to shovel dirt on his back, a thought struck him. It dawned on the mule that every time a shovel of dirt landed on his back, he would shake it off and step up! This he repeated to himself shovel after shovel… “Shake it off and step up,” …blow after blow… “Shake it off and step up.” The mule continued to do this despite how overwhelming or distressing the situation seemed.
He fought panic, he persisted, and just kept on shaking it off, and stepping up! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and tired, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that filled-in well!
Get into trouble. Good Trouble. Necessary trouble And when you do, shake it off and step up. Refuse to be buried. Trust in the triumph!