Comments on: Tension meditations & ramblings

By: Lin Preiss

Lin Preiss — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:05:08 +0000

Brandon, You and I share a lot of background and current identities that the clarity with which you wrote resonate deeply with my mind and heart. Thank you for you honesty, (and for the Lin Manuel-Miranda reference). I appreciate your distinction of “evangelicalism and church growth” from “justice”. I’ve been thinking of the search for tools, that I so often feel are sparse in my proverbial toolbox. How do you find the relationship between tool building and belovedness-claiming in your life? One is an external search for what in my life is a feeling of inadequacy, while the other whispers an “enough-ness” of belonging that changes me when I lean into it. On the other hand, yeah, tools, workshops, education about the needs of those in circumstances unlike my own are ever a humbling reorientation of my identity of Christian laced White supremacy. We are beloved of God. You are beloved, and I see you seeing the belovedness of others restoring its Truth in you.

By: Jer Swigart

Jer Swigart — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:15:58 +0000

Brandon. Thank you for this. It takes courage to look back and take a critical analysis of the “justice” work that we’ve been a part of that may have, in fact, been perpetuating the unjust status quo. As you transform forward into a more righteous understanding of justice, how do you do so in a way that is fueled by your belovedness rather than your desire to do it correctly? It seems that the work of justice is at its best when it’s fueled by love (belovedness) rather than a reaction to a former (& contemporary) practice.

By: Jennifer Foltz

Jennifer Foltz — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 11:46:19 +0000

Brandon, I appreciate your honesty in the struggle with the church and its relationship to true mission work and the how to focus on your own belovedness while there are so many problems around you. It really is our reconciliation to Christ that allows for reconciliation to others. That takes a level of surrender that is everyday work. It is such a gift for me to meet like minded people, like you, that are honest about the struggle

By: Jen Manlief

Jen Manlief — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 05:02:06 +0000

Brandon, I identify with the tension between personal growth and transformation and the urgency of justice- it can almost feel selfish to focus on myself when there truly is so much need for justice. Still working on figuring out how those two concepts can work together.