Hope Not Hate
By Emily Phillips
ACC and MCC's Climate Advocacy Intern, Emily Phillips, Washington, D.C., July 22, 2026. MCC photo/Laura Pauls-Thomas
On a typical Tuesday as Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and ACC’s Climate Advocacy Intern, I sat down at my desk and opened my email to read the daily inflow of energy and environment-related news from Capitol Hill. It was yet another day of public land transfers, cuts to climate funds, and slashing humanitarian aid in the name of savings, and somehow there was still money for even more military funding. Anger rising, I tried to remember Paul’s words from Ephesians: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. I felt my anger slowly shift to resolve to do what we could and leave the rest to the One who works all things together for our good.
It often feels more tempting to blame our flesh-and-blood leaders, companies, and political figures than our true foes, the forces of fear, greed, and violence. Conforming to the pattern of hate sounds much easier than answering Jesus’ call to love our enemies, especially in the political sphere.
However, I come away from this summer full of hope, not hate. I have seen representatives joke with their friends across the aisle and met dedicated interfaith working group members full of grace and peace. I have watched from afar as the leaders of a prayer vigil walked boldly to the Pentagon to be arrested for their signs asking for peace. I have lobbied beside friends full of dedication and positivity. Through this internship, I have been reminded that while engaging in politics, not only do I engage alongside a community full of hope, but that I serve a God who is far greater than the powers of this world. As my internship wraps up for the summer, I hope that this knowledge frees me to move in spaces of fear and indifference with love.