In Faith & Liberation: On Instagram

Dear Ones,

Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation for the love, care, and affirmations many of you have shared since the inception of In Faith & Liberation. Writing, and subsequently sharing my writing, is a personal challenge. As a child of Appalachia, I grew up hearing rather negative remarks regarding the way we as Mountain Folx communicate. Whether that be through spoken word or on paper, our modes of expression have been deemed incomplete, improper, and ignorant. Your words and sentiments over the last year have demonstrated to me that sharing with a confident, authentic voice is what is most important. It is a reminder that the way that we communicate, both now and historically, is important for the sake of cultural integrity. Again, thank you.

With the recent expansion of In Faith & Liberation on Instagram, it has afforded me the ability to share in conversation with a larger audience. The secondary thrust behind the blog wasn’t just to grow an audience but to be in conversations with others who are taking their spiritual lives seriously in a world on fire. While the blog itself will remain active, if not a little more so now, we will also be launching a series of Instagram Live conversations entitled Dreaming from the Porch Swing. Pulling on memories of my childhood when I spent time with my Grandparents on their porch swing in Salem, VA, this series will explore how our dreams for liberation can shape today and tomorrow. Through our conversations we will give voice to our hopes and aspirations, legacies and lineages, questions and answers, as motivations for how we individually and collectively strive towards conjuring Heaven on Earth, the Beloved Community.

Maybe you are wondering how you might be involved? Well, be bold and vulnerable, I want to hear what you are wrestling with. As posts are put forward, comment on them. Send a direct message letting us know your thoughts and questions. Tag us in other posts and conversations that peak your interest. We can talk about these things. Feel free to share posts from In Faith & Liberation across your platforms while including your own reflections — conversations are multi-directional after all. The more participants, the better.

Again, thank you so much for joining me on this journey. As the Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill once challenged me to be “the love behind the plow,” I extend the invitation to you too. The terrain of life has been cleared by the complexity of our human experience, now is the time for tilling the land and planting new seeds that might give forth hearty fields of freedom.

In Faith & Liberation,
Tyler