Like many people, I exited the year 2016 feeling more than a little despondent. It wasn’t just the outcome of the election that left me wondering if I was alone in the wilderness; it was everything leading up to the election.

It was the constant justifying and attacking and general ugly behavior that made me lose hope in my fellow human beings. Even worse, it was the behavior of my fellow Christians that left me wondering where I belonged in American Christianity. I continue an iron grip on my faith as a redeemed child of God, but I spent a lot of time reflecting on what that meant as I interacted with friends and family across the political and religious spectrum.

Over a year ago, I decided to make a personal New Year’s resolution regarding social media: Every time I decided to post something or comment on something I would…