“Half of living is reflecting on what is being lived.”
Fr. Henri Nouwen
My name is Jonas (yes, like the Brothers; or the Weezer song, if you’re my age). I tend to process my thoughts on spirituality and life by writing about them in public.
I grew up in the Roman Catholic church before undergoing a decades long season of disenchantment with the church and joined the hordes of SBNR wanderers. I see that season as a fruitful one. And then, as He’s so apt to do, Jesus reenchanted my faith. When I was almost 40, I had a midlife crisis. Instead of buying a Corvette (or now, I guess it’s a Cybertruck for men in my demographic), the Lutherans* I was hanging out with at the time decided to send me to seminary. Now, I’m ordained. Wild, right?
In 2023, I was called to serve a Lutheran church in Aptos, CA. I was there for a few really good years. But today, I serve in both Lutheran and Episcopal church contexts as a wandering preacher/theologian/liturgist of sorts.
This Substack is where I share my journey ‘Along the Way.’ It’s both my digital ministry and my public journal. Enjoy your time here and if you can kick down a few bucks to support my work, I’d be forever grateful for a paid membership. If not, follow along anyway!
Grace & Godspeed,
Jonas+
*My particular Lutheran flavor: The ELCA
Kind Words From The Back Pew
If I had read Jonas’s writing when I was much younger I might never have become a Pagan! 🤗
- Elizabeth Ann Curran
I read Jonas’s posts almost every day. I love how he articulates things. I’ve lived my whole life in a religious setting where God was always angry. I’ve been to many different churches and have never encountered the train of thought that Jonas holds.
- Ramona J.
The God that Jonas shares sounds wholesome, loving, and beautiful. And truly graceful. Rather than the “I will give you grace, love you always, never forsake you. Oh wait- unless you don’t follow these rules, in which case I will have to deny you were ever mine, and instead send you to burn in eternal damnation” God that I was introduced to at birth. Reading his work brings a comfort I can’t explain.
- Cyndi R.
Jonas is a rebel without being an asshole. Christianity is not “holiness”. It is honesty. And he has it.
- Rip P.
