About

Hi, I'm Jessica Diaz, author of Strength to Love, and I am so glad you are here! (Truly.)

What is this Blog?

The title is drawn from Martin Luther King Jr.'s book of sermons entitled, "Strength to Love." 

One quote from these sermons is a common favorite, and a guide to me, as I write: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

He is of course referencing John's words about Jesus in John 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Why this Blog?

Politics and advocacy have become so divisive  and to be honest: headache-inducing. It is difficult to discern between bias and truth in the current media saturated and sound-bite driven political climate. The whirlwind of opinions exhaust us, so we have a tendency to tune out and disengage, while being disillusioned that we aren't affecting anything. I mean, I'll be honest: I would rather turn on Netflix than CNN Newsroom any day of the week.

Yet doing nothing and tuning out doesn't sit right with me either. I have a feeling that doing nothing is never neutral. We are either helping or hurting, moving forward or backward- we are never stagnant.  I have come to believe believe that  doing nothing is a political act. 

So I instead want to engage in the critical issues. I want to help others engage in the critical issues. I want to make it easier to discern, to dig in, to catch onto the momentum of change. I want to bring light to dark places. I want to learn how all of this political stuff works and what we can do to change it, or work with it to change things. 

I want to remind believers and humans living in democracy that we still have a voice.

I want this Blog to be a dialogue, not a monologue. So, (*please*) speak out, speak up, engage! 

I also want to tell my story. The small things and the big things that I hear, experience or want to share. I believe that to be truly effective towards change, we have to bring our whole selves to the table, in striving for authenticity, connectivity and community. 

Who am I?

I am a contemplative activist and social worker passionate about seeking justice and empowering those who have been oppressed.

I am a dreamer, a human, a disciple, a daughter, a sister, a wife.

I believe that another world is possible.

I believe in reconciliation and restoration for all things.

I am an MSW student at Indiana University School of Social Work and Assistant Researcher at I.U. School of Medicine in the Department of Adolescent Health.

I have a B.A. in Art History from Herron School of Art.

I believe that none of these things which define me, does so better than Christ.

How do I contact you?

I can be reached at stengthtoloveblog@gmail.com

I am also active on twitter and instagram @jessheph