Thank you for reading “You Might Be Right.” The more that I write, the more that I listen and reflect and talk, and the more that I develop my voice.
My Three Lives
For 50 years, I spent my time establishing a career and raising a family. Then, I quit my job and sold my house. And I was inspired by the Gospel story of the rich, young man to follow Jesus. Now, I do NOT believe that Jesus was God, that he was born of a virgin, that he died for my sins or that he resurrected from the dead. Those are NOT important questions to me.
I simply believe that Jesus understood the assignment, the human assignment, to live in community with others.
For ten years, I spent my life in service. Then, I read 1,000 books about spirituality and I had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions—baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes. I wrote The Way, a book about my journey. The book is reporting, not apologetics or polemics or speculation.
My wife says, “You’re a reporter. But, you’re an embedded front-line correspondent, not an ivory tower op-ed opinion writer.” I think it’s accurate, and it sets a pretty high bar for my writing.
After I wrote the book, I wondered if I had said everything that I needed or wanted to say. But, writing a book begins many more conversations than it ends. Turns out, I have had a lot to say.
For five years, I have been an author. Thank you for reading “You Might Be Right.” This is my first anniversary writing at Patheos.com, and here are some reflections on the experience.
My Third Life
This third life is different from my other lives. I have a lot of new friends. And, they are a much more diverse group of people than my old friends. Some online friends became actual friends, people with whom we socialize and travel. Many of my best friends now are authors, bloggers, mystics, pastors, podcasters, publishers and (most important) readers.
Although I read 1,000 books, I never reached out to an author. Now that I am an author, I reach out to other authors, just like some readers reach out to me. Thankfully, I have learned a lot from people who might have learned a little from me. “Did you read this author? Have you thought about this idea? Why did you say this, rather than that?” Now, I have homework to do.
One of my good friends (also, one of my new friends) constantly challenges me by suggesting books to read, “Did you read this book? Your book is great, but this book is even better than yours!!” Well, thanks, I guess, now I have to read it!!
Often, I say that all religion is cultural, and all theology is speculation. Also, I say that religions are like languages, simply different ways of describing the same indescribable Ultimate Reality. So, I am fluent in a few of these languages and conversant in a few more of them, and I have a “passport,” as well as a “press pass,” so I feel at home in some otherwise unfamiliar situations.
Developing My Voice
In the last five years, you could find me among Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Shinto and Taoists, as well as atheists/freethinkers/humanists and all kinds of Christians, including Catholics, recovering Catholics, Evangelicals, Exvangelicals, New Thought, Orthodox, progressive Christians, Quakers, Unitarian Universalists and others.
In the column, I expand on some of the themes in the book. During my travels, I expand on some of the themes in the book and the columns. More important, I have a lot of conversations that offer new insights, provide new ideas for books and columns and seek new audiences for the book and the columns. These conversations are authentic, deep, rich and satisfying.
The more that I write, the more that I listen and reflect and talk, and the more that I develop my voice. Today, my voice is unique, and there are only a few people who write about these things. During my first life, I had an indistinct voice and a small platform. Who wanted to hear me talk about debt service coverage ratios or student loan revenue bonds? I know, right? Zzzz…
Anyway, at 66 years old, I am learning a lot about writing, editing, design, marketing, publishing, sales and social media. Honestly, my second life and my third life provided new starts, almost like being born again in spiritual terminology. Many thanks to the folks at Patheos.com, who expanded my audience and improved the look and feel of my columns.
Most of all, thank you for reading “You Might Be Right.”
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The Way received a 2024 Nautilus Book Award.
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