Grace Under Fire

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was the object of a kidnapping and assassination plot by domestic terrorists. Her experience is a realization of the fears of many elected and government officials at all levels of our political system.

The national discourse has become so toxic that we have lost sight of our common humanity. I refuse to believe that we will lose our nation to this kind of hatred. People are hurting and afraid in a time of extreme uncertainty. These are times when we need leaders who will abandon political ideology and personal opportunity and unite our communities. Talking heads on both sides of the aisle have stoked fear to manipulate and alienate us from each other.

When we stop seeing each other as humans with feelings and needs - focusing only on party or ideology - then we lose so much more than relationships. For all our differences there are so many more things that can unite us. As a nation, we aren't in a place that is sustainable for our republic. Is this the end of the great American experiment? I refuse to submit that this is the case. I believe with all of my heart that we can overcome this, but we have to do it together.

Prosperity and dignity are not zero-sum conditions, but there are people in the political realm that would like us to believe that is the case. We are all doing the best that we can with the tools that we have.

I have received my fair share of hate mail over the years. There have been times when I have feared for the safety of my family. No one should have to feel that way, ever. I also will not be deterred from continuing to build on the progress we have made.

My prayer is that we can all step back and take a collective breath and reset back to that place where we remember that we are all God's children.