The Ones Who Aren’t Here Yet

Or: Why We Keep the Deck Swept

“The people who are going to help us the most aren’t here yet.”

It’s something I say sometimes— a reminder to myself. A small defiance against the despair that creeps in when the room’s half empty or the answers don’t come fast.

In a time when so much feels broken or slipping away, it’s easy to start counting what’s missing: the numbers, the votes, the volunteers, the energy. And sometimes, the faith.

But then I remember: we are not the whole story.

Some of the people who will carry this work forward haven’t arrived yet.

Some are still watching, waiting for a reason to step in. Some are just beginning to sense that maybe they belong in this conversation too. And some haven’t been invited in at all—yet.

Our job is to keep the space open. Keep the conversation honest. Keep the deck swept.

So when those people do arrive—curious, cautious, unsure—they’ll find a place ready for them. A place not driven by outrage or ego, but by readiness. Reflection. Resolve.

Because we don’t win anything by shouting louder.

We win by being here when they show up. ...