Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Hello Weathered Friends,

I want to take a moment to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas (for those who celebrate). This has been a tumultuous year for me, but also a profoundly good one. There’s so much I have to be grateful for, and as I reflect, I realize just how many blessings I’ve been fortunate enough to count.

I hope 2024 has treated you well, and if it hasn’t, let me remind you: hang in there. Life has a way of turning around when you least expect it.

This year, Weathered reached an incredible milestone — over 2,000 followers! I am truly humbled by the support, feedback, and even the criticisms from those who’ve joined our journey. Thank you for being part of this space.

Weathered was born two years ago after a trip to my beloved Southwest. Seeing that beautiful yet fragile landscape under siege from climate change stirred something dormant within me. It reignited my spirit and gave me a purpose. My first essay, Where is Cactus Ed When You Need Him, set me on this path, reminding me that small steps matter when we’re trying to be part of the solution instead of the problem.

But let’s be real — our world is in a precarious position. Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, transcending borders, politics, and species. We humans disrupted Earth’s balance, and now Mother Nature is retaliating in ways that are hard to ignore.

Yet, climate change isn’t the only challenge. I often touch on social justice, and one of my core beliefs is the dignity of honest work. Whether you’re flipping burgers or driving delivery trucks, you deserve a living wage. Access to clean, nutritious food should be a right, not a privilege. I’m not advocating for extravagance but for basic decency and equality.

To the critics who cry foul at these ideas: I hear you. Profit is not inherently wrong — it’s part of nature’s design. But there’s a difference between growth that benefits everyone and exploitation that benefits only the few. We need to do better, especially when those in power hoard resources and divide us with rhetoric and imaginary party lines.

This division makes me deeply angry. As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church and someone who has studied world religions, I’ve seen how faith can be a force for good — or for harm. Watching certain political factions co-opt the teachings of Jesus Christ for divisive and destructive purposes is infuriating.

Some of my recent Weathered pieces — like Liberal Sex Positions That Satan Loves and Jesus on Prosperity and Compassion: A Balanced Call to Generosity and Success — ventured into areas that don’t entirely align with this publication’s focus. The response has been overwhelming, though, so I’m planning to explore these themes more deeply elsewhere.

Starting in 2025, I’ll launch a new publication centered on religion, particularly Christianity, and the true teachings of Jesus. Yes, Jesus was “woke.” He helped the sick, the poor, and the marginalized. He welcomed everyone — gay, straight, or otherwise. He offered healing, inspiration, and hope, teaching us to care for one another and ourselves.

As we celebrate the holidays, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we can live those values in our everyday lives. Whether it’s helping a neighbor, standing up for justice, or simply being kind to yourself, every action matters.

Thank you for being part of Weathered. Your support fuels this mission, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, joy, and renewal this season and always.

Warm regards,
Thomas