I recently was interviewed by the The Associated Press, and I’m grateful for the chance to share some of the deeper layers of AWAKE.
“Transparency with each other is one of my core values,” I told them, about my choice to tell my story. “That’s not a shtick I’m doing. It’s not a PR move. It’s not an optics choice.”
In our conversation, I also talked about what it was like to live through the end of my 26-year marriage, how my relationship with faith has shifted, and why I no longer feel responsible for “saving Christianity” from its loudest critics. That kind of pressure used to undo me — but at 51, I’ve lost my fear of what people think and found freedom in telling the truth about my life.
“I’m a better steward of my influence to sit in the pocket of the community that I have built and lead with what, to me, feels truthful, good, good-hearted, good-natured, loving, kind — all those old standard fruits of the spirit. They’re out of popularity, I understand. They’re not in vogue right now,” I shared. “But I’m a better leader to simply build that community than try to convince another one to be better.”
You can read the full AP News feature here and pre-order AWAKE: A Memoir here.