Building Bridges

conscience calls

I’ve often hesitated to speak too directly about my faith. Not because I’m ashamed of it, but because I want to welcome people from every background. And because it’s most likely not the reason you are following me in the first place. Still, I can’t be honest about my life or my work without saying this: I’m a follower of Jesus, and that has defined my whole life.

I respect those who disagree with me—no matter what about—and I always try to learn something from them. This is one of the things I love so much about America. As flawed as we are, we still have the right to follow our individual consciences and to fearlessly express our beliefs.

This is why I—and countless millions of others—are so shaken by the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week. I know he was controversial, but he was an upstanding man, and in no world did he deserve to die for doing what he did best—passionately engaging others in debate, challenging assumptions, and making people think about what they believe.

He inspired millions, myself included, and even many who strongly disagreed with him.

Now look, I know I’ve already lost some of you. And I’m about to lose more. But please stay with me just a little longer. You can unsubscribe in just a minute 😊.

the weight of speaking up

It's exhausting living in a world where we must constantly calculate all the possible ways we might offend others. “You didn’t talk about this or that tragedy, so you must be a (fill in the blank),” “But what about that thing he said (fill in the blank - but check context, too),” …and on and on.

I can’t mention every horrific event. Way too many innocent people suffer around the world every single day. My heart grieves for so many. It’s easy to get depressed, but this world needs hope.

What I can do is use whatever small platform I have to speak up when my conscience urges me I must.

I’m ok with the fact that ~1,000 people unfollowed me a few days ago for lamenting that a husband & father was murdered in front of thousands while exercising his right to speak, and for saying that we must be radicalized not to hate or retaliate, but to love and build bridges.

Yes, as a believer I am deeply saddened by the loss of a fellow believer who, imperfect as he undoubtedly was, set an example for millions of others. But this isn’t just about Charlie Kirk. It’s about something deeper.

where are we going?

There are good people on both sides of our political divide. There are bad people on both sides too. I don’t identify with political sides. As a Christian, I believe our mission is to be ambassadors—not of a political party, but of a transcendent kingdom.

This is where my faith meets my practical mission: to create beauty in the world. To build. To care. To live by values worth living and dying for. To lead by example, even in the little things.

Beauty isn’t just aesthetic. It’s the choice to respond to ugliness with something better. To see the image of God in people who see the world completely differently than we do.

Charlie’s death is a tragedy regardless of what you thought of his politics. A 31-year-old father was gunned down for his beliefs, leaving behind a loving wife and two small children who will grow up without their dad. As a young dad with two small children myself, this breaks my heart.

But we must not let this tragedy pull us further apart. Ugliness and hate cannot win. It can only inspire us to choose love instead.

This is why I’m writing to you today. I’m recommitting to my mission, and inviting you—regardless of what you believe—to join me:

• In creating more beauty wherever we are. In our work, our words, our every daily choice, big or small.
• In loving more boldly—not just people who think like we do, but the kind that builds bridges across divides.
• In living by values worth dying for. Stop and think about it. What do you live by? What do you live for? I’m striving to put others first, starting with my own family, to show kindness to strangers, to speak the truth even when it hurts—to love.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you.

I feel emboldened to share my faith more boldly than ever before. If you don’t know Jesus, I invite you to open your heart and ask Him to come in. He is the source of all love, and He led by example, not just words, in returning misunderstanding, hate, and even murder with forgiveness, love, and life.

I want to help you—whoever you are—if there’s any way I can. Everything I have that is good I owe to Him, and to all those He’s faithfully sent to me. I’m praying for the Kirk family, for so many hurting people, for our country and for our world.

But I’m also acting. I’m loving.

The world has enough ugliness. It doesn’t need more from us. Let’s answer darkness with light. Division with love. Brokenness with beauty.