Years ago, data journalist Jacob Harris described a “word cloud” as something that “represents word usage in a document by resizing individual words in said document proportionally to how frequently they are used, and then jumbling them into some vaguely artistic arrangement.” This week, as I’ve tried to sleep, a vaguely artistic and overtly chilling word cloud of 2020 has appeared in my head.
As can be expected, the largest words in my 2020 word cloud — framed by a generous peppering of curse words — read like a litany of grief: coronavirus, misinformation, gaslighter, wildfire. But there were other words this year. Most of them survival tactics: sweatpants, sourdough, garden, Zoom, emotional-support-dog (I used hyphens, so it still counts, naysayers).
2020, which allegedly ends later this month, has made us mourn, and within that and despite that, it’s made us creative. Below are 10 articles about how we survived, how we didn’t, and how we still could.
1. How to Save 100,000 Lives
“The ongoing political stalemate stands in sharp contrast to the outpouring of compassion by so many Americans and congregations, but even the most generous charitable efforts can’t compensate for the delays and deficits in political leadership.” By Adam Russell Taylor via sojo.net.
2. How To Convince Skeptics to Trust a COVID Vaccine
“I think for some health authorities and scientists, they’re kind of shy of going into the whole social media space because it feels pretty messy and emotional, which it is. But that’s where the public lives. So we need to establish as many opportunities as we can for people to ask questions and have somebody that answers them responsibly.” By Mary Harris via Slate.
3. ‘I Do Not Know How to Unclench Rage-Tight Teeth’
“We who survive deep pain don’t need to be anyone’s hero, but we can give someone courage, in that moment, to take another breath.” By Josina Guess via Sojourners.
4. How To Die in Texas
“The American mode of dying is unique in the world, and it’s a relatively recent phenomenon. In many ways, the mainstream death care industry is a microcosm of the culture of the country itself: isolated. Driven more often by capital than by grief or healing. Mired in a false history. And — hopefully — evolving.” By Sunny Sone via The Texas Observer.
5. A Liturgy For Celebrating the Holidays Apart From Loved Ones
God who sees and accompanies, be near to us. By Sandy Ovalle via sojo.net.
6. California Megachurch Pastor Dies Days After Announcement of COVID-19 Diagnosis
Water of Life Community Church, like other California churches, closed during lockdown, but in May Carroll and other pastors supported a “Declaration of Essentiality for Churches,” which called for churches to be seen as essential organizations by the state. By Alejandra Molina via Religion News Service.
7. Can We Prophetically Reimagine?
A lament and call for repentance. By Gricel Medina via sojo.net.
8. A More Extreme Gun Rights Movement Is Emerging in the NRA’s Wake
“We’ve got 100 million gun owners in this country,” says Joshua Powell, the NRA director’s former chief of staff. “Whether it’s the NRA or some other group, somebody’s going to have to fill those shoes.” By Matt Cohen via Mother Jones.
9. Can We Find Emmanuel During a Pandemic?
Silver-linings worth fighting for. By Adam Russell Taylor via Sojourners.
10. NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins Urges Christians to Look for Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines, Not Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation
“If you're trying to size up benefits and risks and if you believe that God gives us the opportunity to act as his agents to try to relieve suffering and death, then it seems like this is a pretty good balance of benefits and risks that we want to engage in and probably take advantage of yourself and roll up your sleeve." By Holly Meyer via The Tennessean.
Jenna Barnett is senior associate culture editor at Sojourners. Find her on Twitter: @jennacbarnett.
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