We invite you to explore and participate. May you be encouraged as you read the stories and lessons learned along the way...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. - Psalm 84:5

O’ Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka
Whose voice I hear in the winds;
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me!
I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let Me Walk in Beauty, and make my eyes ever
behold the red and purple sunset.
Make My Hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make Me Wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy-myself.
Make Me Always Ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame.
– Chief Redcloud, Lakota Warrior-Statesman (1822-1909)

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. — Jesus (Matthew 11:29-30, The Message)

We facilitated our first book reading tonight at Eagle Harbor Books, our favorite local bookstore. After reading a few excerpts from our book, some diverse views and great questions emerged from the group…

I’m seeking to learn about Jesus. The Bible seems so complicated. How do I learn about the true Jesus? Where do I look?

I was raised to follow what I believed to be right and not just what someone says. Do you need to read a book to follow the Way of Jesus? Shouldn’t it be simple?

What are your thoughts on other spiritualities… such as Hinduism and Buddhism? Why is Jesus so special?

Is the Way of Jesus walked individually or in community?

How do you stay centered? Can you center individually or do you need community?

Some of my family are pressuring me back to the tradition I was raised in… How have friends and family responded to you and your journey?

I identify with Jesus more than with any particular religion. But when people ask me what I believe I say I’m a Christian but I don’t know why I say this. What do you think?

You say you follow Jesus…would you die on the cross like he did?

Our questions reveal our longings and our longings reflect both the desires and the wounds of the heart…

The gospel is like a seed, and you have to sow it. …Now, when missionaries came to our lands they brought not only the seed of the gospel, but their own plant of Christianity, flower pot included!

So, what we have to do is to break the flowerpot, take out the seed of the Gospel, sow it in our own cultural soil, and let our own version of Christianity grow.
— D.T. Niles of Sri Lanka (1908-1970)

Our best thought can carry us down
to the shoreline of our little island
But only desire can carry us into
the ocean of Holy Love.

Questor for truth, the real question is:
What do you truly want?
What do you truly want?
Consider this well for
Those on the shore will never see more—
But children will play—in the Waves.

–Kent Smith of Abilene, TX

(My family and I really identify with this poem… In a way it reflects our book and our spiritual journey over the past 15 years or so…)