They say every entrepreneur should have an “elevator pitch” – a cogent distillation of all the research and planning that has gone into the new business that can be given in less time than an elevator ride.  And I fear that if someone were to ask me, during daylight hours, for a similar distillation of Christianity, I would fail miserably.  I’m terrible at short answers, and it’s likely that – without realizing it – I’d be reviewing the history of the Ancient Near East, paraphrasing Plato, quoting Augustine, and suggesting books by N.T. Wright (I would, of course, stop the elevator so I had time to explain the nuances!).

But, as I am writing this at 1:12 AM, I can answer in a word:  love.  For, when all is said and done, I have found no other explanation for the world as I know it – in all its beauty, complexity, pain, and hope – than the vision of love that I believe stands at the center of the biblical story.

And I realize, even as I write this, that it sounds tremendously naïve.  Read just the table of contents of any history textbook, and there appears evidence galore that love is hardly the name of the game.  And this is true even if it is a book on religious history… Continue reading

I’m never a better friend than I am at 2AM.

I’m not terrible during daylight hours.  Coffee at mid-day is great, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the clock, as we both have someplace else we need to be.  At 6:30, I’m both hungry and a bit exhausted.  We’ll talk over dinner, and I’ll be genuinely interested.  I’d also like my food to arrive.  We probably have to be up for work in the morning.

Not too infrequently come the conversations that begin later in the evening, standing in the parking lot after a meeting, or over the remnants of dessert when the rest of the crowd has gone.  At 10:30 I want to banter with my inner circle.  “Remember the time…?”  “Could you believe…?!?” “…knights who say, ‘Ni’…”  Did I mention I have Ghostbusters committed to memory?  Wanna hear it again?

But every so often the conversation goes past midnight.  It’s never planned – a serendipitous moment.  Clearly I like you.  And I’m too tired for banter, but I wouldn’t miss the chance to really talk.  I’m entirely interested to know what’s on your mind.  And if I’m here with you this late, it’s how you know I’ll tell you the unadulterated truth about what’s going on in mine.

At 2AM I really listen.  Whatever thoughts I have, they’re yours – to do with as you please.  I won’t try to persuade you.  I won’t force a debate.  I promise you won’t get the party line.  Here is my humble $.02 on life, the universe and everything. Continue reading