The Year That Broke Me Open
One year ago, I was in a state of rage because my fellow Americans had chosen a morally bankrupt criminal and criminally incompetent conman—an angry, sour ego with a spray tan and a bent for fascism—to run the country yet again. Yes, I was in a state. I burned a few relationships. Some I regret. Some I don’t.
A friend told me recently that I can’t be friends with someone I disagree with. But some things factor in on a level beyond politics and policy. When someone supports something that my sense of right and wrong says is wrong to the point of evil, we’ve stepped outside the disagreement zone and into enemy space. My opinions on this weren’t wrong. I consumed media carefully for information, not outrage—though that slipped in and made itself known to the world.
A Quiet Turning Point
By December, I realized I had to do something different. The thought of being another voice in the noise, saying the same thing everyone else was saying from a place of anger, wasn’t cutting it.
So I went from being an ordinary solo practicing believer and failed minister to embracing a calling instead—relying on something I don’t fully understand but love and trust anyway—to make something happen.
Faith Over Factions Was Born
That’s how Faith Over Factions came to life. There was no plan. No all-encompassing vision. Just a thought and a book I’d been working on for years. With nothing else, I went to work. Not only on stuff but on me.
Enemy love takes internal work and prayer. God helps push, but we’re still driving. Fortunately, I had tools that helped me expand and multiply my capabilities even with my disability. With prayer, grace, and effort, I put my hand to both digital and spiritual plows.
Still in the Cause of Justice
Today, the country looks a lot like I thought it would. His Majesty the King is every bit as awful as I expected. There haven’t been any surprises. But I’m using my voice differently now—still in the cause of justice, but hopefully with quite a bit more grace.
As for Faith Over Factions, looking at it and at the published book, I can say God has done something I could never have done without Him. The world may be in an awful place, but me? I’m in a good one. All the stuff God has brought to life through mee was for me if no one else.
Gratitude in the Aftermath
Year One A.T. (After Trump, New America Calendar) has been pretty awful for most everyone who isn’t a billionaire. In fact, my whole book is about how to let Christianity shape our behavior in times just like these.
As for me, I’m grateful—for what has thus far been an epic and challenging ride. Maybe next year I can be grateful for finally putting myself on video and having a few followers. Not a viral load, but a few. Most folks don’t want what I have to say. Most people want video and a message in a minute.
So digging that out is next up. Thankful for a lot as Thanksgiving approaches. Gratitude can change everything.
Because it already has.
If This Spoke to You
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