novus•lumen

Open handed. Giving and receiving.

That is the posture of this space. This space exists to give and receive. It was my intent then and is my new intent now.

You see, in May 2005 I launched this space with the desire to explore, open handedly, the newness I was experiencing in every area of my life, but especially my spiritual self. (You can read more about the name novus•lume, here). After emerging into a period of faith-deconstruction, I set out to offer new ideas and receive fresh understanding on a whole range of things: god, church, jesus, culture, the republican party, social responsibility, etc…For the first time I was giving serious thought to how this world worked, my place in it, and how God and faith (if in any way) fit into this new epoch of terrorism, polarity, consumerism, globalization, diversity, power, despair, greed… And launching this blog was a way for me to digitally ink-out what I was experiencing while living in the tension of an emerging faith and postmodern America.

Now I re-entered this space in June 2007 hoping to do the same again after I was forced to leave. Much happened in the two years since re-launching this blog, especially in the short span of 10 months preceding it’s resurrection. And while I thought I was experiencing novus lumen back then, that was nothing compared to what is happening now: In July 2006 I was kicked out of ministry, subsequently having my identity crumble around me; I lost another job and was reduced to administrative work to humble me for a season; I moved back to a place I fled 5 years ago; and now I am pursuing a Master of Divinity degree to train to be a pastor, an idea I once labeled as the ‘p-word’ out of fear and derision.

I am experiencing a new, fresh clearness and understanding and now I return to this space to reflect upon, muse about, and chronicle this change and emergence. At novus•lumen I write within the tension of spirituality and culture, politics and theology, existing and emerging forms of church, the Kingdom of God and America, modern and postmodern thought, and the gritty drama that is my pilgrim story.

So open handed I come, before you, God, and the world. I come to give, because I think I have something to say about a lot of things, but I offer those sayings in humility. And I come to receive, because I know that true clearness and understanding occurs in community and conversation.

novus•lumen is my participation in the blogsphere as a giver and receiver, and I hope you’ll join me, ready with cupped hands.

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