Me: A Special Kind of Vile?
Friends,
Last night I received an email from a Progressive leaning friend / podcast guest who expressed his disatisfaction with my personal commitment to love, kindness, and compassion in these days. He said it's a "special kind of vile" and told me he'd be unsubscribing from all of my work and withdrawing his support of me, encouraging me to "shame" people who vote in a particular way.
And.
Honestly.
Given my dip in Patreon and Substack support over the last 6 months, I suspect he’s not the only one who feels that way.
Look.
I once stood on the Right and spewed all sorts of things about Clinton, Obama, etc. Then I stood on the Left and said similar things about Bush, Trump, etc. I felt 1000% justified in both instances, and used Jesus as my main justification.
These days, though.
I don’t know.
But, there's a still small voice inside whispering and luring me to a different way so that I don't become the very same energy that I left behind. It’s a voice that I was taught to ignore all of my life as I was encouraged to listen to pastors and teachers and writers and gurus who “knew better” than me … but no more. I refuse to lock my intution away as if it’s some kind of demon and vow (instead) to listen to it, follow it, and go with it wherever it may lead. It's a commitment I made back on January 1, 2024 when I took out my art supplies and started drawing and painting again, and that voice has grown stronger and more confident over the last 10 months.
What is the way that it's leading me to? I'm not 100% sure, to be honest. I don’t have it all figured out and feel like I'm "decontructing" again as I move towards a posture of unity, oneness, and love in these explosive moments of history where it’s all too easy to hate, judge, cancel, and erupt.
And no, that doesn't mean I don't have an opinion.
And it doesn't mean that I don't have strong feelings regarding politics, the way things are, etc.
And it doesn't mean that "everything goes" and I "gloss over" evil and wrongdoing.
What it means, though, is that I'm trying to be conscious and aware of how I hold my feelings and how/when/where I share those feelings.
The world is a mess right now and the election is over, but the reality is that I still need to live with my neighbors - regardless of who they voted for - and “love my enemies”, as Jesus commanded. I can spend the next 4 years pointing my finger in shame and judgement on the wide road of destruction or I can double down on love, following the narrow road.
Double down on a love that makes space for everyone.
A love that seeks to understand.
A love that is curious.
A love that stands up for what is right.
A love that resists what is wrong.
A love that knows when to speak up.
A love that knows how and when to use it's voice.
A love that works towards unity where there is division.
A love that aims to be safe for people who are afraid and broken and beat down.
A love that protects and honors and shines a light into the wreckage of our days.
As Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day once said, "Remember one thing - regardless of who the powers that be are, the people that you elect and I elect into office. Remember, you have the f*cking power, we are the f*cking leaders, don't let these b*stards get you down."
No one can take away my power to love, no one can change the way I choose to lead my life. I am far from perfect, I have many flaws, I have much, much work to do on myself. But I am working to become more aware and more healed, and to create a better world for Jordan and generations to come.
And if listening to that intuitive voice and trying my hardest to follow where it may lead … if that makes me a “special kind of vile”, well - so be it.
I will be spending less time on Facebook, Instagram, etc. in the upcoming months. I’ll be posting links to podcast episodes, art, etc. but will be limiting my virtual interactions with people to a few Facebook groups, here on Substack, and Patreon. That email that I received last night reminded me that I need to be more protective of my heart and mental wellbeing and where I share my thoughts during this next layer of "deconstruction". Boundaries are important for everyone, even people who create content.
Feel free to join me in those spaces …
Subscribe to Substack here if you aren’t already subscribed (paid and free get the same content, but paid helps us pay the bills) - https://whatifproject.substack.com
Subscribe to Patreon here (there’s a free option as well as paid, both get the same stuff, but paid [also] helps us pay the bills) - https://www.patreon.com/whatifproject
Much love friends, take care of your hearts today … and thanks for sticking with me.
Glenn
PS - the books pictured above are the books I’m currently reading that are feeding that intuitive voice. They are full of highlights and notes and hopes and dreams. All highly recommended for the upcoming months/years, especially Oren’s book - “Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love”.