I love exploring…people, places, words, truths.
I love encouraging people toward honesty, toward being their best selves.
Writing is one way I try to live out those loves.
After spending decades as a pastor, I no longer have that as my job. Our faith community shattered, and I’m still unraveling the shrapnel. Over the last year I’ve immersed myself in the writings of women from the middle ages, mystics like Hildegard of Bingen who have grounded me and given me new (and ancient) spiritual life. After taking a spiritual retreat in the place of her birth and life in Germany, I’ve written a book about what she is teaching me.
Finding Papa is one of the projects closest to my heart. My grandfather was the kindest man I ever knew. My desire to understand him and present him to the world has uncovered all the things he stuffed: a dad who left, anguish and guilt over atrocities in World War II, and a brother who committed suicide, to name just a few. It’s become a written journey exploring vulnerability and honesty, and my own story and truths are woven through it. I hope to finish it soon and move toward publication.
And then there’s my blog, a hodgepodge of old sermons, crazy Christmas Carol brackets, attempts at humor, and occasional honest wrestlings. I’ve been at it since 2005, and you’ll find all kinds of stuff if you poke around. Hit the + sign at the bottom of the page for links to recent and old posts, to search, or follow my social media links.
Who am I? I’m Gregg, Elaine’s husband since 1990. I’m also Aubrey, Hayley and Natalie’s dad. I hope you find encouragement and challenge from things I write.
Thank you so much for writing this book! I’ve loved Hildegard and the medieval mystics since college days. Thank you for applying them to current community and to healing! Read chapter one this morning and really enjoy your writing style and am grateful you had a chance for the pilgrimage!
Wonderful! Thank you for reading and for posting this comment. Grateful!
I just finished listening to Finding Hildegard on Hoopla.
Take too long to explain here but let me tell you, as someone who wasn’t raised in any faith and had to go it alone on a very messy spiritual journey, your writing is a balm to my soul! Thank you! (Been Catholic now 31 years this April 15.)
Especially thank you for including the part about her prejudice against poor people (especially that she didn’t want them as members). Reading that part maybe 25 years ago devastated me and I didn’t pick her up much after that…until this year…when I was desperate praying for help, particularly in my creative work, and decided to practice some hard humility and ask her to pray for my lowly self. In my imagination it seemed she apologized to me. And then I found your book on Hoopla. I almost didn’t listen to it, but I’m so glad I did, so glad it’s available there.
Besides the low born thing I didn’t know you’d also speak of charismatic experiences. I’ve had them, but I don’t fit with many charismatics, either Protestant or Catholic, because I believe those gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit are more for helping us be kind, forgiving, as gentle and peaceable people as possible…not for, what’s the most charitable way to say this? Not for puffing ourselves and our specific groups up and over others.
Sigh.
Well, don’t want this to be too long. Please know you aren’t alone in searching, and lately I’ve also been using the word exploring.
So Keep Writing and Narrating!
Keep Creating!
Keep Praying and Exploring!