A former Presbyterian pastor, David Hayward made the challenging transition to a full-time artist/cartoonist and blogger. His blog is called Naked Pastor, and his tagline is “Art that disrupts. Messages that matter.” Hayward’s art and writing still contain the seeds of his faith, just in a more easily digested form. His work is about “spirituality, deconstruction, and religious freedom,” and I’m a big fan.

I have found his work particularly comforting in these challenging times when unkindness is more common than kindness.

“When times get tough, we often need a reminder of how to stay grounded. Life can feel overwhelming, and in those moments, it’s easy to forget how a few simple steps can help us regain our balance. That’s why I created my 10-step guide to surviving a challenging era. To be honest, this list is something I composed for myself. I’m feeling the temptation to fall into anxiety, obsession, and despair. Not only is that not good for me, but it isn’t good for the people in my life, locally and virtually. I want to help and serve. I wrote it as an urgent reminder to myself — one I hope can also offer some support during these difficult times. Now, more than ever, we need love, kindness, and connection.” – 10 Thinks to Help You Get Through a Tough Time

Hayward is well versed in Christian theology, but he also reads and absorbs a wide array of philosophers, physicists, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, atheists, and others “who seemed to be speaking, at a certain level, the same language.” This gives him a marvelously-inclusive way of looking at things, and I love his lack of judgment.

You can follow David Hayward on the NakedPastor website and blog, and on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Note: I am pretty open about my atheism, but my Catholic roots run deep. This man’s inclusion and kindness and reasonableness truly speak to me, with or without a higher power. Also, I am not posting this to offend anyone who is religious. It’s just that he and I see many things the same way. Wishing everyone love.