New Directions

The precursor to this blog began about two years ago now in the form of a support letter for funds, prayers and other help to get me to Israel in order to, in my own small way, reflect to others God’s love for me in the form of a sincere love to those who would otherwise be called my enemies, and in so doing, show that such a radical notion of reconciliation and love is, indeed, “Just Crazy Enough to Work.” I continued to produce updates on my progress toward this end in the form of monthly newsletters, and a gradual transition to sending news, reflections, and needs solely through the medium of this blog. Well, as you hopefully know by this time, I have returned to America and plan to remain here, at the very least, for one school year. So, a few adjustments are in order.

I have given a great deal of thought as to how best continue this blog. Should I begin to attempt attracting a larger audience, or simply write as I feel compelled to? How intimate and personal shall I allow these blogs to become? I have resisted publishing a number of blogs because of how intimate they are in relation to their relevance to what has been, until now, the focus and purpose of this blog. I would not compare myself to Mother Theresa beyond this analogy, but I feel like people can be surprised at the humanity of spiritual figures, including ministers, among whom I humbly tuck myself. The reactions to the diaries of Mother Theresa, released posthumously, and against her wishes, seemed to indicate that people expect such figures to lack vices, rise above a quotidian humanity, eradicate doubt, and purge themselves of despair. As revealed by her diaries, this was not the case for her, and certainly is not for me. Will this blog become a place for that? Should I begin developing and expressing my opinion more? I have only tested these waters in a few recent posts. On the one hand, I fear alienating my few loyal readers or even disappointing people if they find out what I truly believe. While on the other hand I feel there are a number of people expecting me to offer something of an “expert” opinion on certain matters from which I have perhaps withheld voicing an opinion. I know that I certainly wish to convey no opinion in such a way that love is not my primary message, and that as a Christian I hope to demonstrate sincere love to every party across the array of opinions; this could be especially difficult, and all the more if people do not read knowing this is a goal of mine.

Change is in order, what form it takes I hope we can explore together. I certainly have a few more blogs to write about my time in the Middle East and I do expect to return to consistently updating this blog. I hope you will enjoy it and will feel free to engage with me as well.