It’s ironic that as I went public about my journey to nonpartisanship, my deconstruction of evangelicalism, and the internal peace that has come from these two things, I have made so many so angry.

Angry enough to be disrespectful online, saying things I know they’d never say to my face.

Angry enough to call my salvation – and sanity – into question.

Angry enough to laugh react when I share facts/science/things I feel are worth making others aware of.

Angry that I would even consider other points of view that don’t fit their preferred narrative.

Angry with me for being me.

---

What I wish they understood is that…

But the cost of that peace has been high.

---

I took these photographs in Carrefour, Haiti in May 2010 as I assisted with earthquake relief there. This beautiful woman was enjoying dinner outside of her home, unbothered by the cars and trucks driving past.

Amidst chaos and destruction all around them, these beautiful Haitian people showed their resilience by finding a firmer foundation to live on – the median of the main road – until they could rebuild. It wasn’t ideal, with cars passing on either side of their new homes, but it provided shelter from the sweltering heat of the day. We saw them working together with such joy, such contentment, and such internal peace despite the fear they felt about returning to their former homes.

In the photo below, notice the woman in pink who is sweeping her “porch.” While some might think this was futile because it’s on a busy, dusty road, she was doing what she could with what she had to take care of her temporary home, to make it a better place.

As I have written words from my own newly-found (and constantly fought for) internal sense of peace – words that encourage loving our neighbors and thinking critically, thoughts that ask people to stop viewing the world as their political party has told them to do – I have angered many. And I am fascinated (and saddened) by that. It makes me second-guess myself and the personal growth I have experienced.

Why does my peace seem to threaten others instead of inspiring them?

---

I’ve had friends – and family members – block me on social media – or threaten to do so – for being the person I have been for ten years now: nonpartisan. I lost my best friend because I believed the epidemiologists during the pandemic and chose to wear a mask (the least I could do) to protect the vulnerable. They treat me as though I’m crazy, dumb, or both.

Many friends and family members disregard pretty much anything I say. They didn’t care when I was Republican, when I was on their “team”; but now that I don’t belong to a party, I no longer belong in their lives. I’m not worth listening to.

Their politics have become their identity, which means if I say anything “negative” about Republican leaders (which can mean sharing a factual piece about something that happened), they view it as a personal attack instead of what I see it as: critical thinking, respecting facts, and acknowledging that we are all flawed.

I believe that all leaders should be held accountable by the people, and that means pointing out their errors and working to right them instead of believing that they can do nothing wrong, or that it must be right/true/good because he/she said it.

This requires respect for facts, something that takes time and intent to develop.

“Facts don’t require our approval,” as Sharon McMahon so wisely says. But, apparently, our individual approval by others can be harmed by sharing those facts.

And I’m learning the difficult lesson of “let them” – let them think what they want of me, let them yell at me in the comments, let them.

I know who I am, I know what is right and good, and I will continue living that way.

---

To quote my favorite movie,

“We have serious problems to solve,
and we need serious people to solve them.”

(The American President)

This is not a time for party politics, dismissing the other party’s ideas, or bullying.

This is the time to put all of that aside and come together to actually solve the problems our country is facing.

This means giving credit where it’s due – acknowledging that sometimes the other party DOES have good ideas and embracing good solutions instead of throwing them out because of the origin. Reminding ourselves that most of us want the very same things for our country, we just have different approaches.

We can each do what we can with what we have to make our part of the world a better place, or we can let it fade away. We can sweep the road knowing it will get dusty again, knowing that the very act of sweeping is benefiting ourselves and those around us because we are actively trying, and that act is changing us.

We can do our best to be kind, to love, to stand up for what’s right, and to protect the freedoms we have enjoyed as Americans, and even if it feels like it isn’t making a difference, it will someday.

I know it can be challenging – ten years ago, I would have laughed at this concept. But, I’ve experienced all of this in my own advocacy work so I know it is possible. And it changes you for the better along the way.

It takes all of us, and I hope you’ll join me.