Clear Blue Morning

Using Dolly’s lyrics in a message of positivity for 2020

It’s been a long, dark week y’all. With issues in the Iowa Caucuses starting the week off, then the President being acquitted despite evidence that confirmed he abused the power of his office for political gain, it sure has felt like the sun hasn’t come out in so long.

I don’t like labels in general, but especially in politics. I was raised in a small, rural and conservative town in Texas where folks were Republican and Christian, in that order. I was taught to shut out any information that didn’t comply with a very strict and biased interpretation of scripture and what was “good” based on “Christian Family Values.” This wasn’t just my experience either, it was pretty ingrained in culture as some of y’all might be able to attest to. It was no one person’s fault things were that way because that is just how they were. It was a situation where things that didn’t fit those descriptions of “good” and “Christian” were commonly vilified — ‘Socialist, Evil, Satanic, Anti-Christ’ — were all words used to describe politicians who didn’t fit that mold, and those politicians always happened to be Democratic. That experience taught me firsthand that folks can apply a lot of powerful, sometimes negative and very personal connotations to political labels.

During that time, I was taught to fear and block out anything that went against what I was being taught. Shame and fear were the drivers for decision-making and eventually became like climbing vines that held me bound until, I realized I didn’t need them. I went out looking for the sunshine.

Over time, opening my world to new experiences helped me grow into a better me, and start living without that same fear and shame guiding my decisions. I have met some amazing folks with different backgrounds and world-views which eventually led me to have a more progressive outlook. I started thinking about policy that would include all the folks I had become friends with vs policy that only worked folks who were heterosexual white Christians. It was like I was making decisions in the light for the first time.

While I am a bit averse to partisan fueled debates, I have come to like discussing the positive aspects of the party that I was taught to hate. I learned that they are a big tent party, full of diverse people. Sure there are debates and disagreements, but that is because folks are passionate about improving America so that each person truly has room to fly.

It’s already been a long hard fight to get to where we are today, and there will be more in the future. More choosing to bravely to speak out, live openly, and create space for everyone. It might feel like a tight space now, but I’ve been here before and I have a feeling that if we stick together everything is going to be alright.

My name is a Lance, and I can see the light of a clear blue morning 🎶

So if you’ve been in the big tent since the beginning, on the newer side like me, or interested in joining, know that we have space and get eager for the sky.

I run an authenticity blog called BraveNewLove that is committed to creating space for folks to live authentically through discussion of life, wellness, and faith. If any aspect of this post resonated with you, I’d be honored if you checked out some more of my writing or joined the newsletter to be part of the BraveNewLove Community.