Welcome to my blog. On the one hand, I write for others because enough readers have affirmed the value they see in what I write, even though I so often doubt that value myself. On the other hand, I write for myself because I repeatedly find clarity, insight, and understanding — and new questions and problems — as I watch my thoughts take shape in the words before me.

I write from who I am, and from who I aspire to be. I am a son, brother, nephew, and cousin. I am a father. I know the unfortunate experience of divorce, as well as some other major unpleasant experiences. I know what colossal failure feels like, along with public humiliation and shame. I know the taste of life-energizing successes. I know the hope of new love and companionship. I am a lifelong churchgoer, an imperfect Christian, and a relentless pursuer of truth. I am a skeptic. I ask critical questions and analyze — and over-analyze — so many facets of life.

I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Bible, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry. I’ve worked in vocational church ministry, in university teaching, and in small-business lawn care. You might classify me as a younger middle-aged man.

In many ways, I got into writing because, in 2004, an English professor of a senior-level undergraduate course I was taking suggested that I do so — much to my surprise. At the time, I did not think highly at all about what I wrote for school. Often enough, I still question the importance of what I write. But Professor Hearn’s encouragement was so unexpected, and his sincerity so undeniable, that I’ve never been able to forget the words he wrote in his summative evaluation of my handwritten course journal. I guess I’ve wanted to honor his compliment ever since. I guess I’ve wanted to find out if he really did see something in me that I did not see in myself.

So, thank you for reading what I write.