I always strive to be completely honest and transparent. So I’ll share with you that I’d rather be home than walking around Iowa. I’ll miss my wonderful, beautiful wife, Kathy. I’ll miss our farm and the seasonal rhythm of chores, harvest, and good eating. I’ll miss our diverse community of friends and neighbors.

But times such as these — when an authoritarian government threatens democracy, and run-away climate change threatens our very survival — we are each called on to do what we can.

This march is one more thing I can do. It’ll be difficult, that much is certain. Perhaps it’ll also be fruitful, if even in a small way.

Halfway through today’s seven-mile march from Sherman Hill to the southeast side of Des Moines, I was greeted by a sign that prodded me with a gentle but important reminder:

“Earn the right to be heard by listening first.” Continue Reading →