The First One

* If you would prefer to listen to me reading this post, an audio version is available near the bottom.

Hi Everyone,

My first post.  There’s nothing quite like a first, is there?  Your first kiss.  Your first job.  Your first grey hair!   They mark thresholds.  Crossings into unknown territory.  Which is what gives them that distinctive combination of excitement…and fear. 

A first is a step into something new, which this post certainly is for me.  Although, really, this is more of an introduction and an update than a post.  More on that in a minute.

For those of you who may have stumbled onto this newsletter by Substack-happenstance, welcome!  I’m glad you’re here.  Most of you, though, know my story – a pastor at a big, busy, beautiful Presbyterian church in Denver for the past 21 years.  A husband and a father of two (mostly) grown children.  You know this past May I decided to ‘hang up my robe’ and see what this Breathtaking-Bewildering-Mystery-of-a-Universe might lead, push or pull me into doing next. 

You also know that in March of 2023, out of nowhere, our then 18-year-old son was diagnosed with a tumor in the middle of his brain.  And you know during the last year our lives were turned upside down as he underwent two surgeries, six weeks of radiation and six months of chemotherapy. 

So, a quick update on him for those of you who loved and prayed us through that time: he’s doing great.  We will, of course, be worried for years.  But, as I write this, he is knee-deep in a river somewhere in southern Colorado learning to flyfish.  Thanks be to God.

And me?  Well, after two months of resting, traveling, and not thinking much about what’s next, what’s next may be coming clearer sooner than I expected. 

As I was ending my time as a pastor, I set up this Substack Newsletter to stay in touch with people. It asked for a tagline to explain what it’s about.  Since I didn’t think I would probably ever write anything, I didn’t give it much thought. 

I scribbled this:

“Occasional reflections on learning to trust life, stay present, and open to Love.” 

And now, when I think of what I most want to do with whatever work-years I have left…it’s basically that.  Help others (and myself) learn to:

1.        Trust life

2.        Stay present

3.        Open to Love

(And here I’m thinking not of romantic love, but the capital “L” variety.  The one Love.  The one Thing beneath and through all the things.)

So…instead of taking a more traditional job, I’ve decided to try going my own way.  Actually, several ways.

One, I’ll start posting reflections here on Substack, and once I get things set up in a month or so, I’ll offer a subscription option. 

Two, I’ll also start offering one-on-one Spiritual Coaching, both in-person and online. 

Three, I’m going to collaborate with my dear friend and Episcopal priest, Elizabeth Jameson to lead retreats, classes and whatever else we can dream up.   She has her own Substack Newsletter you can check out:  @elizabethjameson 

But all of that is down the road a bit.  For now, I just wanted to give you an update and make a proper introduction to those I don’t yet know.  I’ll send out my first ‘real’ post in about a week. 

Which is exciting.  And a little scary.  It feels vulnerable to step into the unknown this way.  And that, I keep telling myself, is exactly how a ‘first’ is supposed to feel. 

[Just for fun, below is “Three Ians and a Nana” (aka my parents, my son, and me trying to look our Scottish best, somewhere near the seaside town of Oban back in May.]

Till next time,

Ian

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