Welcome to our communal journal

Trees cannot live without its roots. Roots sustain them and give them life. They shape how trees grow upwards, through the fertile ground and above the surface. They form the foundation upon which trees stand, giving them the strength to withstand the forces of nature. They are essential, and yet complex. Underground, they weave among each other, forming patterns that make each tree unique from one another. They give these trees their identities, defining what makes them special.

For many of us, our roots make us unique. They reflect centuries of history, heritage and culture. They are formed by our worldview - our belief of how the world around us was created, and then shaped by our experiences and the stories that come from them. But for many of us, our roots are hidden from others - those around us only see who we are above the surface; our narratives and histories supplanted by the perceptions formed by others.

We live in a day and age where our identities - those very identities that form our roots - are seen as monolithic, rather than intersecting and nuanced. Many of us are put in a box by others - based on the identity they wish to prescribe upon us. Some become defined by the color of their skin. Some by how they dress. Others by the languages they speak, or don’t.

This communal journal is therefore both a celebration of our intertwined roots, and what our roots have shaped us to be. It’s a space for us to share perspectives uniquely shaped by our various identities - to offer ways to frame and understand realities of the world around us through the lens by which we see the world. This is a space to share, to learn, and to celebrate. By sharing how we see the world, we learn to be more inquisitive and more intentional with those around us. And then, we celebrate how the intersection of our identities create a beautiful, colorful and vibrant community that reflects the diversity of God’s creation.

Writing is a communal experience. Through our words, etched on paper like the timeless marks engraved on a tree, our individual experiences become part of our collective whole. Our roots, which have formed and defined us, become intertwined, and our stories too, are interwoven to form the roots of our shared community.

We therefore invite you to share in this communal experience. A few of us started this communal journal because we wanted space to reflect on how the various identities that have shaped us intersect, and what that means about how we see the world. Some of us wonder how the culture and history of the Asians in America, for example, shape how Asian American Christians view the evangelical church. Some of us have thought about how non-Black people of color can best serve in majority White or majority Black churches. Others of us struggle with how women can lead in a society dominated by men. We’ve also wondered whether well-intentioned, upwardly mobile millennial Christians serving in underserved communities perpetuate gentrification.

These are just some examples of how our identities can intersect and uplift one another. Our identities help us paint a fuller picture of the world around us. What we’re asking of you is to consider writing and sharing your perspectives on issues that are dear to your heart. We hope writing helps you process like it does for many of us. Or, just join us and read. Join us to share, learn, and celebrate our intertwined roots that make our community stronger.

Here are some of our ground rules. Let us know if there's anything you want to add!

• Your writing can be in whatever format you want. Be free to express yourself with words. Your style, cadence, and rhyme, or not, is totally up to you. Real talk though - please use spell check :)
• We don’t talk about specific people. If you know the person by name, don’t write about them.
• Watch your language. Direct language is important in sharing your thoughts and feelings, but sometimes it’s just offensive. If we deem your language offensive, we’ll ask you to edit your post or take it down. Please just trust us and roll with it.
• No generalizations about people, groups, or communities, please. That means no generalizations about political parties or politicians. This isn’t a place for brash political statements. Please try to be nuanced. We get that this is a place to express how you feel and process, but it’s not a place for divisiveness.
• Don’t judge someone else’s writing. It’s not your place, and you don’t want others to judge what you write, either.
• We encourage you to post anonymously if you’d like. Feel free to sign a post with a pseudonym. Just be consistent so that if you decide to share who you are with others, they won’t get confused.

Let us know if you want to join us; we'd love to share in this journey with you!