I visited a church in Bean Blossom, Indiana yesterday. You may have seen the news stories of it being vandalized. This area has always been special to me. I shook hands with Bill Monroe across the street from this church when I was a little kid, (that's another story). The lady in the photo is Phyllis and she volunteers at the church and she couldn't have been more warm and kind to me. The church has a reputation of welcoming anyone regardless of skin color, faith or who you love. I told her that I just wanted the folks who visit this church to know that they aren't alone. I've never had any use for churches or religions, but I'm still in their corner. Anyone who ruffles the feathers of these right wing hate groups must be doing something right. She told me about an older member of the congregation who escaped from Germany in WW2 who was particularly startled when she saw the swastika spray painted on the side of the church. She also showed me a wall filled with printed out messages of support from all over the world. She said they are going to continue welcoming anyone and everyone. It's what they do. Even the people who vandalized their building are welcome to come to their services. I think Phyllis is beautiful in every way and I wish she lived next door to me. I told her that I have more questions than answers and I'm not sure how we get past all of this ugliness, but history will be kind to those of us who oppose bigotry, misogyny and authoritarianism. I think that's what most of us are trying to do.

A photo posted by Otis Gibbs (@otisgibbs) on