On Saturday, January 22, I joined over 30,000 men, women, and children at the San Diego Women’s March.

I marched as a son of immigrants, husband, friend, pastor, neighbor, and (God-willing) future father.

Since the weekend, I have been moved by many personal stories from men and women why they marched. In many ways, I feel that their words and their perspective is so much more thoughtful, poignant, and needed than what I could ever contribute.

But I have also been moved to grief by the response of others, particularly from those that like me, want to follow Jesus. At worst, these responses have been defensive, dismissive, and hurtful. At best, these responses demonstrated a profound discomfort for people of faith to stand in the tension of our world’s messy intersectionalities. And in giving in to this discomfort we give up our ability to stand with people.

I marched in a sea of humanity that reflected different perspectives, and sometimes competing convictions.

I marched because I believe in the greatest act of intersectionality in the human history—that the infinite God chose to forfeit his privilege to walk with his Creation and in doing so reminded us of our dignity as image-bearers of our Creator.

It would be naive to expect every participant of the march to share a perfectly common set of convictions, just as it would be foolish to expect that from the global Church of millions.*

Jesus did not wait for orthodoxy before extending the dignity that is the birthright of every child of God. Even in the face of violent opposition, he chose to walk with us anyway.

And from that same God, I have heard the call to go and do likewise.

On Saturday that call placed me in a march of thousands. I also recognize that it will often lead me down a lonely path. But I will never walk alone because I will walk with Jesus.

My experience at the march was necessarily complex. In many ways my life reflects and perpetuates much of the privilege that many of those marching buckle under the weight of.

But Jesus never shied away from complexity. Instead, he always chose the path of restoring dignity, even when that led him to the cross.

And in my woefully imperfect way, I will try to do the same.

*Case in point: Upon reaching the steps of the County Administration Building, a woman proudly waved a sign that read “You Can’t Have Feminism without Veganism.” I vigorously disagree.