Be No Stranger

Opening Our Hearts to Living Loveward

Author's Note: This Is for All of Us

Before we get into it, let me be clear: although I use the figure of Yehoshua—better known to most as Jesus—as a central example in this piece, this is not a message written only for Christians or followers of his teachings. This reflection is for anyone who is trying to live more consciously, more courageously, and more compassionately in a world that often seems determined to divide us.

With 2.3 billion people identifying as Christian globally, it’s nearly impossible to exist in modern society without bumping up against the impact of Christian narratives—whether through laws, culture, family systems, or even trauma. I know I’m not the only one carrying deep grief, disappointment, and in some cases, complex PTSD from religious spaces that preached love but often failed to practice it.

So I’m pulling back the curtain on my own wrestling—not to convert anyone or convince anyone—but to invite others to do their own wrestling without shame. There is too …