We hold secrets.

All of us.
Who has never been unwelcomingly touched by a male?
When we admit how rare it is that a woman has never EVER been violated in any way, we first have to sit with the enormity of what that means.
People in our lives who we love have, and do, harm to us.
Shame is paralyzing, and then fear -- fear of having no idea how to confront the pain in our very own families.
As a woman and pastoral confidant, the data is crushing.
Yea, it's hard to talk about.
There is no perfect candidate other than ourselves to begin speaking everyday truth about what and who has hurt us and to make damned sure we don't try to soothe ourselves by pointing an angry finger at our "other."
Enough.
Yea what Trump represents grosses me out.
So does Bill Clinton.
As a fine young man once shouted at me, "look it -- as a man I assume that I do not get the benefit of the doubt. It doesn't matter what I haven't done. What matters is how much has been done and yea, by men."
This election didn't begin this nor will end it.
We end it by beginning to live in courage and confidence in our own lives.
​And we cannot do it alone.