Us, Together

Friday, September 12

I wrote yesterday’s email before the events of the day had unfolded. Which means I’ve had a lot of time in my thoughts to process what’s happened in our country over the last few days. You may not care and that’s okay. Feel free to go on with your day.

I don’t care about your politics. Or the politics of anybody, really. I care about humans as humans. And at some point, we have to remind ourselves that people are not political views or political parties or votes cast. That disagreement is not evil. That we are not the enemy of each other. I don’t have to agree with a single one of your views to love and respect you. And I don’t need you to agree with me in order for me to be at peace. I don’t need to know who you voted for or what you believe in order to sit next to you, work next to you, talk to you, share a meal with you. Cults require you to have the same beliefs. Communities simply require respect. We need community.

Leaders rise above the fray. They rise above rhetoric. Or maybe they don’t rise above, but they get down on bended knee. They serve. They listen. They care. They show a better way. They remind us that how things are is not how they have to be. That better is possible.

Pride divides. Fear divides. Labeling divides. Creating teams divides.
Love unites. Respect unites. Humility unites. Connection unites.

It is not Us vs Them. It is not You vs Them. It is simply us, together. With all of our views and beliefs and opinions, with love and respect being the thread holding it all together.

​The best way to love your enemies is to not label anybody as your enemy.

Leadership matters more than ever. But the most important person you can lead is yourself. Start there. Lead with love. Lead with hope. Lead with humility.
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Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-Kevin