{"id":184,"date":"2026-02-24T15:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8881\/2026\/02\/24\/my-walk-across-america-proves-were-not-nearly-as-divided-as-dc-claims\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T15:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:00:47","slug":"my-walk-across-america-proves-were-not-nearly-as-divided-as-dc-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/2026\/02\/24\/my-walk-across-america-proves-were-not-nearly-as-divided-as-dc-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"
My walk across America proves we’re not nearly as divided as DC claims<\/div>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Day after day on this Walk Across America, the blisters on my feet remind me of the cost, but the conversations I\u2019ve had along the way healed something far deeper. I\u2019ve stopped to talk to strangers on corners, at bus stops, at roadside diners and McDonald\u2019s, and in many other places. Most of us would call these people ordinary, but that wouldn\u2019t be true, for each one of them was unique in his or her own way. They are the salt of the earth who make the world run.<\/p>\n

Not one of them asked about party lines, protests or the latest squabble on social media. They all talked about where they were headed, their jobs, their kids\u2019 futures, the price of feed, church<\/a>, football games, and how to help others or keep kids off the wrong path. They spoke with passion, and they saw themselves as part of the community. They had a role. They felt important.<\/p>\n

A retired teacher shared how she tutors kids after school for free \u2014 she considers her pension a blessing and sees this as her way to give back. I was talking with a man whose truck had broken down when a mechanic stopped and offered to fix the stranger\u2019s truck. I even spoke with a teen pushing his lawnmower down the street to mow a senior citizen\u2019s lawn for free. All of these conversations did wonders for my soul.<\/p>\n

They also led me to realize that America isn\u2019t as divided as the headlines scream. What unites us isn\u2019t manufactured in Washington, D.C. or amplified on screens. It\u2019s forged in the quiet acres of faith, family and neighborly love. In fact, I would argue that those in the spotlight treat one another more harshly than the people on the streets.<\/p>\n

MISSISSIPPI’S SCHOOL MIRACLE SHAMES FAILING CHICAGO LEADERS ON EDUCATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen Black and White believers link arms in prayer. I\u2019ve seen couples of all shades and married to people of different shades. I\u2019ve seen conservatives and liberals who refuse to surrender their friendships to fleeting politics. I\u2019ve seen people organize work and sports around the fairest and most worthy principle of all: merit. And I\u2019ve seen losers and winners hug, both going home to work on what needs improvement.<\/p>\n

Psalm 133 declares, “How good and pleasant it is when God\u2019s people live together in unity!” It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down to bring blessing. Ephesians 4 urges us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We cannot force unity through laws or shame. It must come organically, rooted in shared faith and purpose.<\/p>\n

Back on Chicago\u2019s South Side<\/a>, I\u2019ve seen what division breeds: suspicion, silos, violence. The cause is bad faith and policies that foster dependency. How can you be all you can be when you place your life, or part of it, in the hands of another \u2014 especially the cold, faceless government?<\/p>\n

MY WALK ACROSS AMERICA IS A LESSON IN GRATITUDE AND GIVING THANKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

This walk shows a far better reality. In diners, churches and front yards across these states, people are hungry for real connection \u2014 not performative activism, but authentic fellowship that says, “Your struggle is mine, and we\u2019ll rise together through hard work, prayer and accountability to God.”<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t naive optimism. I\u2019m seeing it with my own eyes. I feel like I\u2019m back in my hometown of Kenton, Tennessee<\/a>, where life was always like this \u2014 and I loved it. I miss it so much, yet it warms my heart to know it is still alive in many parts of America. I\u2019ve met former gang members mentoring youth, business owners hiring the overlooked and pastors crossing town lines to collaborate. They\u2019re not waiting for permission or programs. They\u2019re living out the merit-based, faith-driven life that built this nation. And when they do, barriers fall.<\/p>\n

As I head toward my distant goal of Los Angeles<\/a> on my walk across America<\/a>, I\u2019m carrying this truth forward. Unity isn\u2019t achieved by erasing differences. It\u2019s achieved by elevating what matters most \u2014 God, family and the creation of opportunity.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

My million steps aren\u2019t just to fund a building<\/a> on the South Side of Chicago. They\u2019re to remind America \u2014 and to remind myself most of all \u2014 that we can still come together around these timeless values.<\/p>\n

This walk has filled my soul with happiness and faith. What I have seen is beauty \u2013 American beauty. You know what I say is true. You know it still exists.<\/p>\n

We may not walk together but walk with me in spirit and be part of the greatness of this nation.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM PASTOR COREY BROOKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day after day on this Walk Across America, the blisters on my feet remind me of the cost, but the conversations I\u2019ve had along the… [more]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flamenet.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}