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1/ One big lesson I've learned in the past 10-15 years is that I'm most spiritually vibrant when I feel at home in my theological tradition and travel widely in my reading.
2/ I am within an orthodox, historical Protestant, Reformed tradition. I feel at home here. I share my theological convictions and beliefs here.
But I often times feel a commonality with the "sensibilities" of other writers from other traditions. For example:
But I often times feel a commonality with the "sensibilities" of other writers from other traditions. For example:
3/ Henri Nouwen or Ronald Rolheiser, who are Catholic Vatican II types, have a kind of gentle, loving sensitivity to our relationship/identity with Christ that is concerned with consciously feeling comfortable in our skin, that I feel is often lacking in my tradition.
4/ Listening to Gardner C Taylor, a Black preacher in the American Baptist tradition from Brooklyn has taught me to be more "rooted + improvisational" in my preaching rather than just manuscript or shoot-from-the-hip preaching.
5/ Walter Brueggemann, United Methodist OT scholar, taught me to use my imagination when reading Genesis in a way that brought the stories to life for my preaching in way that did a bit more than just show the redemptive typology of Christ that I am use to (and still preach).
6/ 2 books that rooted me in the worship/prayer of ancient church fathers was Clement's "The Roots of Christian Mysticism" and Hall's "Worshipping with the Church Fathers." Christian mysticism wasn't rooted in New Age Philosophy but in Athanasius Augustine & Cappadocian Fathers
7/ Admittedly, I think this means you need well read and trained in your own tradition. Traveling widely with no secure home just leaves you feeling homeless.
8/ Also (and finally) traveling widely does begin to expose and alert you to blindspots/weaknesses (maybe even sins) of your own tradition. That may bring some sense of fragility. But it may also provide you with resources and tools to bring healing and repentance where needed.
