In my February 2001 article, An Invitation to Journal, I advanced four reasons why we should practice the spiritual discipline of journal writing.  We commit to this discipline because:

A spiritual journal does not center on us, but rather on God's grace and presence as He guides us all through life. God’s invitation to journal, therefore, is not merely an exercise in personal self-expression, but rather a call to prayer and dialogue with Him regarding our spiritual journeys.

However, it is one thing to keep a journal and quite another to publish it for others to read.  In the past, I never imagined the possibility of permitting anyone other than God and my wife, Lois, to peek at the journals I've penned.  As I wrote down my reflections during my time in Israel, the thought never crossed my mind to create a book.  So, why am I sharing my sabbatical experiences in Israel by publishing "A Summer's Journey"? 

First, offering the journal to my friends is the best way I can think of to answer the question I've heard so often since my return to the United States - "So, how was your time in Israel?"  It was the journey of a lifetime for me, and I find it impossible to convey its essence in a few sentences.  The story line - the adventures of a Jewish -Christian pastor during a summer of news making events in Israel - strikes me as compelling enough to share.  This also is the best way I can envision for reporting to the members of my congregation (First Baptist Church, Lincoln) what I did with the precious time away from the pulpit that they so unselfishly granted to me. 

Second, the insights I gained during the sabbatical regarding my personal spiritual journey - especially concerning my childhood dream which prepared me to convert to Christianity - seem to me to be interesting enough to share.  Some of my close friends have advised me throughout the years to let others see the human (read: private) side of me, and the journal reveals personal struggles and honest questioning.  Reading Thomas Merton's journals has convinced me that sharing this side of one's existence in a journal has positive merit, and I have not shied away from the challenges involved.  I have resisted trying to gloss over my foibles, insecurities and faults, and I trust that being vulnerable in this way will enable readers to better appreciate how God relates to fallible human beings.  I have sought to protect the privacy of those who shared their personal issues with me, and thus have not included their conversations - even though these talks were some of the most precious experiences I had in Israel.  I trust all my friends will understand the necessity and propriety of this omission.  

Third, my mission as a pastor/teacher/spiritual director is to help others understand, embrace and appreciate their spiritual journeys.  On a didactic and theological level, Endless Possibilities and the Course Book are designed to explain the basic principles of spiritual journeying and to help readers apply those principles to their own lives.  However, I have noticed that so often readers mention the personal illustrations I inserted when they provide feedback on Endless Possibilities.  Obviously, most people are touched more by stories than by systems of thought!  Publishing my journal, therefore, is my attempt to acknowledge and honor this very human tendency, and to teach about how to process a redemptive spiritual journey as it progresses.  In this sense, A Summer's Journey is a follow-up to Endless Possibilities.  

Fourth, I wish to draw attention to some very important issues and themes which occupied me this summer.  The struggle between Israel and the Palestinians is a vexing one, and Christians have no choice but to grapple with this issue.  Coping with terrorism is now an American (and world-wide) concern, and my experiences with terrorism in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem speak to this problem.  The Church's mission responsibility to Jews is also explored.  None of my writing in these areas is meant to be definitive, but serves rather as a starting point for your own reflective activity.  

I envision A Summer's Journey to be a three-way conversation between God, myself and you, the reader.  It is a risky venture for me to undertake,  both as a pastor and a person, but I trust in your goodness and grace as you share the summer of 2001 with me.  Your reactions will be the ultimate judge of the wisdom of this effort at sharing about how God interacts with us as we journey, and I look forward to your feedback.

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December 12, 2001 is the publication date for A Summer's Journey.  If you would like to pre-order copies, or to order other Spiritual Journey Press materials, click here.