I know I have a different opinion than most of you do on things in the world today. Our country, our culture, our home, our society, our politics-God don’t let’s get started there. But it does not come from bigotry or misunderstanding. It comes from my belief. My drive. My passion. My belief, drive, and passion throughout my life since I was a child has been to understand.
That’s it. Just. Understand.
Since the first time I saw the world outside of my own I have wanted to know more about it. What’s it made of. How does it tick? Where does it come from?
I have tried to understand other cultures, other religions, other countries, other languages, other songs and poems, other people, other persons, male and female, for all of my life, with the belief that I am not above them. I am one of them. And they are ones of me. All of them. All of you. All of us. All of me.
I will continue to extend the hand of friendship to whomever holds theirs back to me. I will continue to look into your eyes and say, “Hey! You are a friend. Here, take my hand in this glorious year of 2025!”
And together let us find the future.
Amen.
