reflections
-
walking the length of an island
Why do you walk eight, nine, 10 hours a day? In any weather and conditions, on whatever tracks or pavement or gravel or dirt or sand or grass, through deep mud or rushing water—anything the day brings? In whatever environment, from muggy subtropical forest to beaches to farmland to towns or cities to quiet or Continue reading
-
“the long path”
The longest backpacking trip I’ve done to date is eight days in the Patagonia region of Chile, averaging around 10 miles a day when it was all said and done. Now, I’m planning to thru-hike New Zealand’s north island for at least two months, hoping to average more like 15-18 miles a day during the Continue reading
-
seven years
Seven years ago I packed my silver two door Honda Civic to the brim and moved to Big Sky. I had been living back home in PA for a year after spending a long year abroad, teaching English in Thailand and roaming around parts of central and southeast Asia. Not once have I regretted the Continue reading
choices, Christianity, Faith, God, home, hope, Jesus, Montana, movement, reflections, spirituality, Trust -
worth in rest
Teach us. Weather and seasons, rain and snow and storms and blizzards, cold and heat—earth; and body and mind, heart and soul and spirit—self; and that divine whisper—God; how to give ourselves what we need, in the moments we need it. It is a constant battle, sometimes, to oppose the relentless voice that says “go Continue reading
Christianity, Faith, God, hope, Jesus, listening, love, quiet, reflections, rest, self-esteem, self-worth, silence, solitude, spirituality, stillness, Trust, value, worth -
outside
I had a special day in the mountains this summer that left me happy, tired, and sunburnt (not to mention with a few mosquito bites), also with a new peak. From the top I slowly took in the panorama of the familiar mountain ranges, and the vast (seemingly endless) wilderness. I stumbled upon a clan Continue reading
-
what comes after?
It’s easy to believe in God, in heaven; even in hell, if you’re speaking of hell on earth. All of us have experienced both heaven and hell in this life. We’ve seen evidence of their reality here and now. But are they actual places and states of existence in the next life, the afterlife? I Continue reading
afterlife, asking, authenticity, bible, change, Christianity, church, compassion, deconstruction, empathy, eternity, evangelicalism, experience, Faith, God, Grace, growth, heaven, honesty, hope, immortality, Jesus, knowledge, learning, listening, love, openness, personal, prayer, reflections, religion, scripture, Searching, seeking, spirit, spirituality, story, Theology, Trust, truth, understanding -
35
I don’t know where I thought I’d be at 35. I couldn’t have foreseen I’d be here—living in a ski town in Montana, housed with a family of five in a room above their garage, working a job that gives more freedom than I could have ever hoped for, not to mention a sufficient income. Continue reading
-
the tree
in my youth a tree was planted in the heart’s field. there it grew, watered and well-tended, bathed in light. years passed. my soul’s winter came. the lackluster tree loses its leaves. it still lives but with broken branches and missing limbs. even now it reaches skyward, though a little skewed, almost remembering something it Continue reading
authenticity, beliefs, change, Christianity, creative writing, deconstruction, evangelicalism, experience, Faith, God, Grace, growth, honesty, hope, imagery, Jesus, learning, love, metaphor, past, personal, poetry, prayer, present, reflections, religion, spiritual journey, spirituality, story, Trust -
the bible
Is it our salvation, a love letter, a rulebook, a guide, an instruction manual, a weapon, or just stories made up long ago? Is it true, inspired, outdated, or myth? Is it directly from or dictated by God, or only some of it, or none of it. Does it point to God, or do only Continue reading
asking, authenticity, bible, change, Christianity, church, compassion, deconstruction, empathy, evangelicalism, experience, Faith, God, Grace, growth, honesty, hope, Jesus, knowledge, learning, listening, love, openness, personal, prayer, reflections, religion, scripture, Searching, seeking, spirit, spirituality, story, Trust, truth, understanding -
prayer
Heads bowed. Eyes closed. Hands folded. Who taught us to pray this way? Would God have us pray in a spirit of formality. Or would he rather we lift our heads, open our eyes, and stretch out our hands to the mystery that reaches us. I think of the Michelangelo painting on the ceiling of Continue reading
asking, authenticity, change, Christianity, church, compassion, deconstruction, empathy, evangelicalism, experience, Faith, God, Grace, growth, honesty, hope, Jesus, knowledge, learning, listening, love, openness, personal, prayer, reflections, religion, Searching, seeking, spirit, spirituality, story, Trust, truth, understanding
a kingdom built of seeds 