It’s Time

Over the years, people have told me I should write. I tried a couple of times, but I always quit. For me, the time just didn't feel right. For two reasons.

First, I don't think an earlier version of myself would have been comfortable writing things to post in this format. It was too public, too vulnerable. And I was still too ashamed, too fearful, too people-pleasing. That's paralyzing.

But I'm not who I was back then. I'm walking in a level of Gospel freedom I didn't think was possible at one time in my life. That means a lot of good things for me and the people around me. It means that some things don't feel so scary anymore.

Second, I think I've long been suspicious that I'm not truly creative. It feels like I spend more time mixing and mashing existing things than creating original ones, and that has at times made me wonder if my thoughts were worth expressing.

But recently I read a book by Questlove. As a musician and all-around creative genius, he makes the case that few artists are truly original. Instead, their creativity is expressed in their ability to blend existing things in powerful ways. This felt so liberating to me.

Questlove helped me see that maybe I create as I curate.

If I were to imagine my life and leadership as a room, I might see it full of eclectic objects gathered from disparate places: ancient Scriptures, spiritual mothers and fathers, streams of revival, experiences with other cultures, unlikely mentors, books with different worldviews than my own. I'm learning to celebrate what's been gathered into this room instead of feeling like I need to create everything in it. And instead of tidying it up and categorizing it all, to let it be messy - even in paradox with objects across the room. Wonderfully complex seems to be better than tidy. At least it's more interesting and has more possibility.

But if I had to pick a unifying theme that could possibly honor this eclectic and eccentric room, it would be hope. Maybe I'm just now old enough to identify a life theme. I think this is it.

As you'll quickly see, for me, hope is rooted in a Divine Person who was once crucified but is now risen. I think all hopeful stories, even the ones I tell here, come from and find their home in His story.

So, I'd like what you find here to help you to hope. And to hope with others. Hoping can feel dangerous (which is why we don't always want to do it). But we have to.

Thanks for visiting. Some things will probably change as I set this blog up, so thanks for your patience in advance.

It's time.