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The words that I have chosen as my blog title are borrowed from Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Anna Quindlen. This is the title she chose for her weekly contributions to the New York Times. I have no delusions of grandeur—I can only hope to come within a country mile of her insights. I was lucky to find a compilation of some of her thoughts in a book by the same title as her column. I commend the book to you.

Some see me above all as a preacher. “Preacher” or “minister” was an identity that I once did not readily embrace, even though it was my chosen profession. I wanted to be seen simply as “one of them.”  With age, and a bit more maturity, I have come to see that my vocation is a big part of who I am. Many can say that about their vocations. As with me, when they walk in a room, they are first seen as doctor, lawyer, or teacher.  

I now gladly embrace the label “preacher.” It is a privilege to stand before a community of faith every Sunday and take a shot at bringing something that might touch at least a few.

I have had the good fortune to pastor four churches in my twenty-nine years of ministry. I can even say that the one in which I experienced a lot more pain than joy was a blessing in disguise. In retrospect, I can say that I learned more about myself than I would have otherwise. Make no mistake about it, I would have gladly exchanged a little less growth for a little less pain, but life doesn’t give us this choice.

Yes, I am a preacher, yet I still claim to be “one of them.” Lenny Bruce once said, “I’m not a comedian. I’m Lenny Bruce.”  First and foremost, I’m a human, not a preacher. Like everyone else, I experience hurt and joy. I have the same needs and wants as any other person. I want to love and be loved; I want to be happy; I want to make a difference in the lives of at least a few people; I overestimate the limits of my humanity; I can sulk, and I can also have great equanimity. I, like you, am a mixture of all kinds of things, much of which I am unaware.

I conclude this first post by introducing you to some important people in my life. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Georgetown, KY  has been good to me since the first day of my sixteen years of ministry among and with them. Like all congregations and ministers who are together for a tenure as long as mine, we have been through ups and downs and smooth times. Regardless, it has been and is a privilege to be part of their lives. I am especially grateful for their unending support through some personal, rocky times. They have treated me as family members ought to treat each other.

The most important people in my life are five beautiful women. Donna, my wife, has brought me more happiness than one person deserves. If you have met her, you know that it is no exaggeration to say that she possesses an inner and outer beauty that in large measure comes from being at peace with herself.

The other four women are my daughters and Donna’s daughters. I brought Emily and Lydia to our blended family. I am lucky beyond measure to call them “mine.” Donna brought Natalie and Olivia with her. I would gladly have picked these two wonderful, young women, if I had been looking to adopt.

I’ll throw one man in for good measure. My son-in-law Brandon became part of the family two and a half years ago. Even though we root for different teams, we have found a connection in our common love for the best sport God ever created—baseball. I have yet to convert him to the right political party, but with age, I’m sure that he will see the error of his ways.

Thanks for reading my first post. I hope you will stop by every now and then and add your comments to my reflections, so we can “think out loud,” together.