Welcome
For much of my life, I’ve been a pastor and nonprofit leader. Along the way, I’ve benefited from great mentors, friends, colleagues, and team members who have challenged me, encouraged me, and helped shape who I am. I am who I am because of those people—and because of life’s joys, disappointments, questions, losses, and surprises.
Recently, I lost one of those friends. I miss him more than I ever imagined I would.
At his funeral, his daughter read poetry. I wasn’t particularly interested. Poetry has never really been my thing. Until she started reading.
It was different from the poetry I remembered. There were no clever rhymes. No need to figure out what the poet was trying to say. Just words. Images. Phrases. Questions. Words that didn’t necessarily tell me what to think but invited me to think.
I later learned it was called free verse poetry. I prefer to call what I’m doing lyrical musings.
I rarely begin writing with a conclusion in mind. More often than not, I begin with a question. And frequently I end with one. Somewhere along the way, I occasionally discover something I hadn’t expected.
I don’t always find answers. In fact, I’m becoming increasingly comfortable leaving some questions unanswered. But somehow, in asking the question, I often find clarity.
That’s what I hope happens here.
I want these musings to be provocative—not for the sake of provoking, but because some things are worth disturbing. I want to ask questions we may be hesitant, or even afraid, to ask. Especially questions about life, God, the Bible, faith, doubt, suffering, certainty, and what it means to follow Jesus.
Some of these questions may create tension. Some may challenge things we have always assumed were settled. Some will remain unresolved.
I’m okay with that.
Writing these lyrical musings has helped me discover what I really think, feel, and believe. Sometimes I’ve surprised myself.
My hope is that something here might resonate with you, perhaps even prompt a little reflection of your own.
We may not find many answers.
But perhaps we’ll come to understand ourselves a little better.
And maybe even recognize God’s presence along the way.
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