Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Politics and Religion
Remember Who You Are

Remember Who You Are

Last updated on: January 26, 2025 at 3:00 am by John Beckett

0 Comments

Remember Who You Are 2025-01-24T08:54:37-06:00 John Beckett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The first key to successfully navigating these difficult times is to keep a firm grasp on reality, and to never let anyone – especially those in positions of power – convince you that something is true when it’s false, or that something is false when it’s true.

The second key – and the one I want to focus on here – is to remember who you are.

Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde made news this week when, in an interfaith service at the National Cathedral, she asked President Trump – who was sitting in the congregation – to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now” – referring especially to LBGTQ people and to immigrants.

Two points before we go any further. First, we can question the appropriateness of a public prayer service (even an interfaith service) at the beginning of a President’s term in a country where there is no established religion, but such things have been done occasionally throughout the nation’s history and consistently since 2001. And second, while the building where this event was held is called the National Cathedral and it was built with a charter from the federal government with the intent to be used for national events such as state funerals (much as Westminster Abbey is used in the United Kingdom), it is part of the Episcopal Church and receives no taxpayer money.

What’s important for us here is that Bishop Budde remembered who she is – a minister of Jesus Christ, called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

Another sidebar: this is a Pagan blog and I am not interested in debating the authenticity of Bishop Budde’s Christianity. From my perspective, progressive Christianity, conservative Christianity, and MAGA Christianity are three separate religions, none of which are mine.

In 2017 we were inspired by badass park rangers who defied Trump’s orders to stop sharing information with the public unless it was approved by him. They didn’t do anything extraordinary. They just remembered who they were and who they work for (the people, not the President) and did their jobs.

In 2025 we’re inspired by a bishop who remembered who she was and used an opportunity to speak the truth and to ask for mercy for the most vulnerable among us.

It would have been easy to lead a generic service, to mumble some pretty words, and to avoid a confrontation. She wouldn’t be the first Christian leader to sell their soul for the approval of Donald Trump.

Did she change Trump’s heart? I don’t think he has a heart. Did she persuade him to moderate his extreme positions? No. She made him uncomfortable for a few minutes, but that’s about it.

But she remembered who she is and she refused to let Trump change her.

None of us are likely to have an opportunity – and a responsibility – like this. But all of us will be challenged – are being challenged – to remember who we are, what we are, and what our core values are.

Remember who you are when your values are challenged

My conservative friends tell me we’d be better off with smaller government, fewer regulations, and less immigration. I don’t think so, but they might be right. Policy differences are up for debate.

But when someone argues that trans people shouldn’t exist or that refugees should be treated like criminals, that’s a matter of values and it’s not up for debate. It’s my responsibility to speak up and speak out, but more importantly, it’s my responsibility to not let the loudest voices in the room change who I am and cause me to start thinking that some people are “less than” because of who and what they are.

Remember who you are when your priorities are challenged

I don’t know Bishop Budde, but I do know that as a bishop she has a diocese to manage, and I imagine that doing her job as a bishop is going to remain her top priority.

I said “I’m not a political activist” and that caused some people to assume I’m abandoning the political world entirely. I think this post and the last post clearly show that’s not the case. But what I’m not going to do is let yelling at Trump get in the way of doing my paying job, of worshipping my Gods, of trying to contribute to the modern Pagan movement, and of at least occasionally enjoying life. I did too much of that last time and it didn’t accomplish much.

Trump and MAGA are a cultural problems. And while we have to oppose them politically, we will never permanently defeat them with only political action. We have to change the culture, and the best way to do that is to be who and what we are, as openly as possible, as loudly as possible.

Remember who you are when it feels like the losses will never end

We’re at the beginning of the “shock and awe” phase of Trump, MAGA, and Project 2025. Bad things are happening, they’re happening fast, and they’re going to keep coming. Team Trump 2025 is much better organized than Team Trump 2017. There’s been some pushback – 22 states have already sued to block Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. This is a fight I expect to win, but at least for the next few months losses will outnumber victories.

Remember who you are.

And also, remember who you are when the losses are personal and not communal. Last year was a tough year for me. This year has started off with sadness. It helps to remember that no matter what happens, I’m still a part of Nature, a part of all that is, made from star stuff and animated by the same forces that give life to every other animal, vegetable, and mineral in the universe.

And also, I’m a Druid, a polytheist, a Pagan, and a witch. These aren’t just labels or titles, they’re part of who and what I am. Knowing that gives me the strength to keep going even in bad times.

Who are you?

In order to remember who you are, you have to know who you are in the first place. For most of us, this is the work of a lifetime. I’m in my 60s and I’ve spent considerable time and effort exploring this question. I know who and what I am much better now than I did in my 20s and 30s, but I expect to still be wrestling with this when I take up permanent residence in the Otherworld.

There are plenty of people who will be happy to sell you an identity, for a price. For some, the price is your money.

For others, the price is your soul.

I can only tell you what works for me: lots and lots of introspection, combined with trying on a series of identities and seeing how they fit.

Some I didn’t really want (i.e. – corporate executive). Some I wanted, but not badly enough to do the kinds of things I would have to do to become / achieve it (becoming rich). Some were helpful but only temporary (amateur athlete). Some stuck, but weren’t deep enough to build a life around (goth culture and horror fiction).

I’ve found an identity, a home, a life here in my religious, spiritual, and magical work.

Which is not to say that’s what you should do / be / become. No one can answer this question for you.

But I can promise you this: you’ll learn a lot about who you are in the next four years, if you live intentionally and pay attention.

Remember who you are

One of the more frustrating parts of our current situation is that so much of it is out of our control. We can’t get the party we voted for to do the right things, much less the other party. The only person you can control is yourself.

You have to live by someone’s values – make sure they’re yours.

You have to support someone’s ethics – make sure they’re yours.

You have to live by someone’s priorities – make sure they’re yours.

Remember who you are.

Politics and Religion

Community

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde

Pagan

Paganism

Washington National Cathedral

Previous Post

January 20, 2025

Reality Is Not Determined By Executive Order

Next Post

January 30, 2025 Brighid’s Fires: Comfort, Anger, Inspiration, Change

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"If you have access to Facebook you might find my analysis of the Trump movement ..."

Gus diZerega

Paganism In An Era Of Christian ..."

"Halloween is so popular because of about 5% pagan influence, and 95% because horror and ..."

Jordan Moller

Why Halloween Is So Popular – ..."

"A great post! Point 3 has always held interest for me, as it makes a ..."

FCVan

Why Halloween Is So Popular – ..."

"Absolutely marvelous John!"

Panmankey

The Pillar of the Boatmen: the ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Community CUUPS Druidry Foundations and Context Gods and Goddesses Magic Myth Nature Ritual Spiritual Practice Theology Travel Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month November 2026 October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was only seven years old when I became king and reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joash (or Jehoash) Manasseh Hezekiah Josiah