Pastoral Care and Personalized Faith

One thing I know about millennials is our consistent claims of individuality and individual expression.  Each of us feels unique because we've developed abilities to express ourselves in our uniqueness.  We've come to love our diversity and celebrate it.  So how do we reconcile with institutions that seem to demand types of conformity?

Each of us aligns differently in our faith.  Don't think I'm poo-pooing all churches.  I am a church-goer.  I love church, but I also love a bunch of people who love different churches or faith traditions than I do, as well as a bunch of friends who don't go to church and may or may not believe in God.  One thing all of these people (even the atheists) have in common is their view that a spiritual life can be a healthy, good thing.  Many of my friends who don't enjoy church or have problems with it (or maybe just aren't into getting up early on Sundays, let's be honest) have developed spiritual lives on their own.  I know even more people, though, who feel lost and uncertain about how to start talking to God, developing personal rituals, or learning to develop a spiritual relationship to the earth.

How do we approach scripture if we feel it is kind of ugly sometimes?

How do we pray to a God if we don't know one exists or what kind of God exists?

How do we honor the earth if we live in a city or don't know much about it?

How can I draw from my own heritage to develop a faith that is authentic?

How can I challenge myself to be a better person without dogma or severe guilt-tripping?

How can a spiritual life help me to find peace and connection in my life and the world?

These are good questions.

I want to help people answer them.

That "Discernment" Thing

The bush burned alive with the truth and wonder of God.

"I Am that I Am," said God.

"What are you even talking about?"  I said.  "I don't get it."  I understood little, but I took off my shoes.

"I will be with you," said God.

"You didn't answer my question," I sighed.  "Where will I go?  What will I do?"

The mystery of God and the mystery of my future flamed before me in a beautiful, red ball of magic that seemed to move everywhere at once while staying still in front of me.  It was Truth, but I couldn't touch it.

I will follow you, I thought, and as I did, the road appeared before me.




The path is long and winding.  As I round each turn, I squint into the distance, trying to make out the future.

I came to a wall.  "I'm too short!" I yelled.  I waited for my reassignment, but the silence begged me to continue.  I climbed the wall.

I came to a river crossing.  "The water is too rough!  I will be swept away!" I said as I flopped down onto the sand.  I waited, but the only response I could hear was the water against the rocks.  I waded across.

I came to a narrow bridge.  "I guess it doesn't matter that I have terrible balance," I grumbled as I began to put one foot in front of the other.

Then the road ended






at the top of a cliff.

I looked down at the sunlight gleaming off of a world of possibility.  I looked around and found a hang-glider, a parachute, a bungee cord, and a rope ladder.

Exasperated, I sat down and stared into the distance, expecting a flag to wave in the distance.  "Here!  Here!  This way!"  they didn't say.  Only the sun glistened on the rooftops.

"Where am I going?  Where is this leading me?  How am I supposed to know what to do?" I cried.

"I Am that I Am," I heard echo all around me.  "I will be with you."

"Seriously?!"  I kicked the bungee cord off the cliff and watched it disappear.  I guess that's not an option, I suddenly realized.   I gathered the hang-glider, parachute, and ladder and stared at them, then back into the distance.

I don't know.  They all have their merits.