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If you like The NakedJournal, you'll enjoy my weekly newsletter about deconstruction, freedom, and life in general.
I call out bullshit in Christianity, the Church, its Theology, and its leaders.
Iām also affirming and inclusive (as seen in my cartoons). I believe we all belong. Of course, the problem is that those who donāt think everyone belongs are the ones who exclude themselves from the human community of Oneness.
Love is my message. Art is my language. Everyone knows that about me by now. But wow do I get hate for it.
And sometimes I get tired.Ā
I appreciated Rushdieās admission of his hurt. Not just the physical pain of the attack, but the emotional hurt he suffered when his Satanic Verses came out, the subsequent fatwa, the years of fear and security and hiding, the rejection he suffered in the literary community and elsewhere, then the attack and the reaction to that.
He reveals how hurt and disappointed he was by all that.Ā I get it.
Every day, I gain new followers almost as fast as I lose them. I always hear from someone, āOkay, youāve gone too far. Unfollowing.ā One woman last week said, āYou said you were the NakedPastor, but I donāt appreciate the full frontal nudity. Iām unfollowing you.ā
I guess there are levels of nakedness. But hereās another thing people should know about me: The reason I called myself the NakedPastor is that Iām going to be the one who gets nakedā¦ as in vulnerable, real, raw, transparent, and honest, with no adornment or hiding behind a faƧade. Iām going to be as authentic as I can be. And Iām going to post it. Youāre reading my private journal. If you want to know more about me, I do, but most importantly, why I do it, take a look at my YouTube video.
Iām not trying to gain a following, although I appreciate it. My primary goal is to be authentic and honest in front of everyone because I know how to be vulnerable. If you want to learn more about vulnerability, Iāve written a blog explaining why it is important to be vulnerable.Ā Iām free to be vulnerable. Youāre free to watch. And youāre free to respond or react or reject, too. Iāll be honest: I prefer the love. I donāt like the hate. It hurts.Ā Ā
Some days are harder than others. Not because of the intensity of the attacks but primarily because of the sensitivity of my heart that day.Ā I know Iām helping people. Some people even say I saved their lives, so I wonāt stop!
But Iāll admitā¦ sometimes I wish it was easier.
One of my favorite pieces Iāve created is āLove Without the Fine Printā because it pretty much sums up my perspective on love, that it isnāt complicated. Love is love.Ā
I am so obsessed with it that I have an entire range built around thisĀ digital print, from my t-shirt (my favorite, obviously) to mugs and stickers. Iām sure youāll find something you love!
Hate is flying in every direction at the moment, at me and others. But donāt let it! Try to keep your head up. The community we have built makes it all worth it, even on my darkest days. Thank you for hanging in there with me, listening to my rants, and showing your incredible love and support. I wouldnāt be where I am today without you.Ā Ā
1 comment
I want to thank you for the openness and critical thinking in your art and newsletter, David. I know a bit about being hated for loving ātoo muchā (or loving the āwrongā people). I know it is hard af. But being true to yourself and helping others feel safe and loved is basically fullfilling the great commission and building transcendence. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, dear David.