July 2011 – Page 4 – 300 words a day

Writing for you and me

When I sit down to write 300 words, I often don’t know whether I’m writing for you, for me, or for both of us. Sometimes the writing is for me. It’s therapy. It’s working out what’s going on in my life. Sometimes the writing is for you. It’s teaching or challenging. Sometimes, the very best […]

by Jon Swanson

on friends and pastors

A friend and I were talking the other day. I said, “Remember, you already have a pastor.” My friend hadn’t thought about that and said, “I think I’ve never had a pastor that I had any relationship or friendship with.” I understood. And was saddened. I’m sitting at a conference of pastors and church leaders. […]

by Jon Swanson

Theology

I’m at a conference. We are debating documents that talk about what we believe. They are written in language that is technically very precise. And hard to understand. I’m sure that theologians, those who study God, would argue that this language is challenging for some, but is necessary to delineate who is on which side […]

by Jon Swanson

Jeremiah 14:37

That’s the verse that I wrote in my notebook. I was making a list of things to write about, having spent the whole day writing posts for the conference I’m attending. Sometimes when you turn out words all day, it’s hard to process thoughts, to find your own voice. I have a long list of […]

by Jon Swanson

Watching fireworks alone.

Hope is sitting on the roof, watching fireworks. She’s alone. I’d feel sad for her, but I did the same thing thirty-five years ago or so. So I feel more melancholy with her than sad for her. It’s that feeling of watching something that is supposed to be communal when you are alone. There are huge […]