I am the Rev. Dr. Kimi Floyd Reisch and I am a storyteller.

 

Our stories shape us, guide us, and help us make sense of the world. They are not just narratives; they are the lenses through which we view ourselves and others. I grew up in a conservative religious tradition that shamed and rejected me for who I am. The teachings I received were rooted in narrow interpretations of Christian dogma, where anyone who didn’t conform to a prescribed mold—especially those like me—was cast aside. I internalized these messages for years, struggling with feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and shame. But I knew, deep down, that the story I had been told didn’t align with the truth I felt within, didn't align with the authentic self I knew lived within me.

 

It also made me reconsider everything. If the story others told about me didn't align with my own truth and experience, how could I assume the historical stories were all accurate reflections of all people? As a result, I’ve spent my life seeking a deeper, more expansive truth of humanity in this world—one that transcends the whitewashed, masculine, heterosexual narrative often imposed upon us. I have sought stories that uplift the fullness of human experience, that celebrated diversity in gender, in sexuality, in ethnicity, in lived experiences, in love. And in doing so, I found liberation, healing, and a sense of belonging.
 

This journey of deconstruction and re-imagination is one of the most powerful acts of faith I can claim—because I am now the author of my own story, a story rooted in love, justice, and transformation and not one where my authentic self is dismissed as "sin." My story is the story of a spirit that refused to be confined by the boundaries of exclusion and judgement, and instead, used the rejection I experienced to join the efforts to construct a beloved community where all are welcome, exactly as they are, and all are greeted in love.

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The fight against separation, bias, and exclusion is not one we undertake alone. It is a collective endeavor, rooted in our shared humanity, a fight that demands each of us to act in community for common goals, not just for ourselves, but for the flourishing of all. The Beloved Community is the embodiment of this vision—a world where justice, love, and equity are not abstract ideals, but are woven into the very fabric of our everyday relationships and actions. bell hooks wrote in Killing Rage, Ending Racism; "Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world." If we eradicate some stories and the people who share them, we are eradicating their contribution to our communal past.

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That means that to build such a community, we must journey into the past—not to dwell there, but to reconsider everything we have been taught. For in the reclamation of hidden truths lies the revelation of the deep-rooted inequalities we all carry. These truths—often neglected or suppressed—hold the key to understanding the wounds of our world. I have spent the past decade in the process of reclaiming my own stories, unraveling the threads of silence and shame that have bound them. Now, I am committed to helping reclaim the untold stories of our shared history—stories that have the power to heal, to educate, and to unite us in the ongoing work of justice.

 

The work of our spiritual ancestors, the work of those who fought to change the status quo and open new doorways to thriving for others, serves as a powerful reminder that resistance is not just about standing against something harmful, but also about standing for something transformative: a world where all people are affirmed, loved, and able to live in their own radical authenticity. A world where the stories reflect a shared past we can all be proud to claim. We can begin by working through the traumatic legacies once and for all, healing the long infection of human spirit.

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The resurgence of nationalism, racism, and the erosion of rights in recent years can feel overwhelming, but it also presents a call to action, urging communities of resistance to unite in solidarity and to rebuild the very relationships that nationalism seeks to tear apart. Every story of healing, of connection, of standing firm in the face of adversity, is a message of hope. It’s these stories—from the past and the present—that help break down the walls that divide us, and show people they are not alone in their struggle.

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I believe that the change we seek in the world begins within us. And it is through finding our community—our chosen family—that we discover our internal center, our sense of belonging, and our power to transform.