Last week’s blog post called “Calling All Brains” was quite enlightening. There ARE voices of reason out there! (A big thanks to those of you who responded.) Below, I’ve listed a few of them.* Some are to the right, some to the left, some I knew about, some I didn’t, but they present content in a way that makes sense. I hope they’ll be of use to you too.

Some people, I’ve discovered, reject moderate voices of reason even within their own party, but most of us are open to a little poking and nudging if the voice is credible and trustworthy. You know, open to growth. This seems mature.

Now don’t get me wrong. I believe in standing up for what you believe, even to the death if that’s what it takes. I’m just baffled by this particular juncture in our country. It doesn’t seem mature. And it’s particularly troubling for those of us who don’t fit neatly in either political party. (I think there are millions of us.) Things are so polarized, it’s hard to find the voices that speak for us. That’s why I love what my fellow seekers have found and shared here.

I miss the good old days when the parties could work together. At DenverWorks, we had Republicans AND Democrats on our board…and we all got along. Know why? Because we all cared about the people we served. There was little drama because our mission transcended politics. Or more to the point, we worked together to find political solutions.

So here’s where I am in my journey, which is likely where many of you are too, i.e., turning away from the crazy-making voices out there, laying aside distractions, keeping my focal point, running my race, and growing, always growing. We can only be responsible for ourselves.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

*Daily Standard podcasts, books such as Uncommon Decency – Christian Civility in and Uncivil World by Richard Mouw, former president of Fuller Seminary, The Hole in Our Gospel –What Does God Expect of Us? by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, Christians at the Border, Immigration, the Church, and the Bible by M. Daniel Carroll, Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton Graduate School, programs on PBS such as “Democracy Now” and “Amanpour” on PBS, The Atlantic, andybraner.com (building bridges for a global community), and simple statements like this: “I have to commend both Cory Gardner (CO-R) and Michael Bennet (CO-D) on their bipartisan support regarding issues related to immigration.” Amen!