I must confess, lately I’ve been asking the question: “Is being a peacemaker worth it?” When there is so much injustice in the world, is being a peacemaker doing any good? Especially this year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the war that followed, I find myself wondering if picking up the sword is sometimes required to effect necessary change. Then, I learned a valuable lesson from the source of many of life’s grea

In a political climate marked by increased callousness and even cruelty, loving your “opponent” can feel like an act of beautiful defiance. I’ve found it remarkably healing to choose connection over division. After a particularly contentious election years ago, I found myself walking through a grocery store mentally putting people in boxes based on how I thought they had voted. I recall moving through the aisles surrounded by people who I assumed were operating with a complet