An Introduction to Embrace What Matters

Why I joined Substack and what to expect from this newsletter

Stock image from Canva by Andrey_Kuzmin.

I once read that there are three ways to engage the world:

1. You can consume everything in the world, whether good or bad.

2. You can deny everything in the world, and seek only the things of heaven.

3. You can take part in the restoration of the world, where heaven comes to earth and makes all things new.

I’ve tried option one, living for my appetites and ambitions with no forethought for the consequences of my behavior. But if that’s all life is about, I’m not sure I have much hope for myself or the world.

I’ve tried option two, feeling the safety of the walls I’ve erected, but ignoring the life that’s passing me by (including those who suffer outside my walls). If there is a heaven but it has little effect on the life I now live, I’m not sure I have much to live for.

But if heaven is coming to earth (option three), if God isn’t distant, but has engaged humanity, if I can live as an agent of restoration with the hope that everything wrong is in the process of being made right, then I have a reason to get out of bed every morning.

The purpose of this newsletter

This is why I’m starting this newsletter, and really, why I seek to do anything worthwhile:

I want to embrace what matters by bridging the things of eternity with everyday experience.

In this newsletter, you’ll read posts about God and spiritual things. You’ll read posts about the most common, everyday things. Most posts will include some fusion of the two.

While I’m a seminary-trained Bible guy, my desire is to discover the role of the divine in things like washing the dishes, going to the movies, making up with your spouse, going bowling, helping the homeless, taking a hike, reading a good book, and so on.

Sometimes I may write about things best understood within the Christian experience. Other times I may write about our collective humanity, and why celebrating what we all have in common—no matter our beliefs—is indeed a holy thing.

I hope you’ll join me. If you do, you’ll find a community where authenticity and transparency are encouraged. Where not having it all together is how we can all come together. Where it’s ok to doubt, to fear, but also to hope, be thankful, and constantly pursue mutual kindness, respect, and love.

My plans for now

I plan to post often, at least once a week, perhaps more. I plan at first to post pieces I’ve written elsewhere to give you a taste of what’s to come.

For now, all offerings in this newsletter will be free. However, writing is one of my chief vocations—and most people are paid for what they do—especially when it brings value. So, I’ll likely include some sort of paid subscription option in the future.

Thanks for reading, and for joining me in this exploration of how to live out option three.

---

What are your thoughts? Have you considered option three or is there another way you’d approach this? Join in on the conversation.

---