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Potato leek soup for tomorrow |
so this fits how?
Such is the story of my life: seemingly random elements that somehow fit the puzzle that God is making out of my life. This blog shares those pieces of the puzzle as I continue to study the Old Testament, minister to graduate students, strive to build up community, and remember well my former life in Amsterdam (and Michigan).
28 August 2025
Ready for the year?
18 August 2025
The grace of the unexpected
A poem by Sara Kay Mooney on the Mockingbird website made me smile by how it describes God rearranging our expectations:
"On the weekends, I play Wordle
with Jesus. He makes
the puzzles; I guess the words.
I’m not very good (though
I’m learning). That Christ—
he’s a tricky one. Always
thwarting expectations. Upending
things. Full of surprises, that guy.
...
Last week, shame
turned out to be share,
Sorry was story,
greed was greet,
...
See On the weekends, I play Wordle for the rest of the poem.
15 August 2025
I was in prison and did you visit me?
On Good Friday, I went to a service where they offered a variation of "the complaints of God." It includes quotes the text from Matthew 25, which asks where were you when I was hungry, sick, in prison. And I have mostly ignored the 'in prison' part of it, because who did I know in prison?
And well, it felt like a nudge from the Spirit this time to say, um, well, actually there's that woman in Matthijs' region that he hasn't been able to visit. So I do know know at least one person who needs a visit and I am one of the few people I know who is uniquely qualified to visit (qualified in the sense of being a Dutch speaker living in this region who has pastoral training). And there was a sense that if I can help, shouldn't I? So I reached out to the organization that Matthijs works with to let them know that I was willing to visit women in prison in Canada or nearby.
This request to visit only women is a bit odd, but not atypical of me. One of the things that I was doing on Sabbatical was to continue to understand how being autistic affects my life. Interestingly enough, a study/podcast on Christianity on the spectrum highlighted that pastors who are autistic tend to do well when we focus on certain niches (like I do with campus ministry). So just because I'm a pastor and have gifts for pastoral care for young adults and folks connected to the university does not mean that I'm good at pastoral care for all people, and it's okay for me to recognize my current limitations.
13 August 2025
Welcome to the Awkward Club - coming to terms with being autistic
Several years ago, I came to the realization that I was likely on the (autistic) spectrum. People can have odd ideas about what it means to be on the spectrum, and I think it's important to challenge those assumptions when possible. So I've tried to be open about my experience, which is why I wrote about it in the Christian Courier awhile ago.
The following is the article:
"Neurodiversity has been a part of my story for a while, even as it has taken me a long time to recognize that and see the goodness in it. It wasn’t until someone started talking about the connection between autism spectrum disorder and the inability to escape fight or flight mode that I recognized a parallel with my own tendency to “check out” when I’m overwhelmed. A couple of online diagnostic tests and a lot of reading later, I came to understand that my “checking out” was likely connected to how neurodiversity can affect executive functions, which are basically the overarching skills that allow for time management, completing projects, social interactions, processing emotions and stimuli, and more.
In my pastoral work, I’ve often been able to connect with those who are seen as odd or awkward. My directness and honesty can be refreshing to others, like the grad students who appreciate my asking five minutes into the conversation whether we’ve done enough small talk.
My hope is that I’m able to create space for others to be honest and even vulnerable. I recognize that I’m not as concerned about making others uncomfortable as a neurotypical person might be. I bring up things others might have avoided as potential sources of conflict. This has led to awkward moments, but as anyone who is neurodiverse might tell you, awkward is simply a normal part of our lives, and we’re more than willing to share that experience with you."
29 July 2025
Campus Life in the Netherlands compared to Canada
Student life is a very significant department at most Canadian (and American) universities. A positive housing experience, including a strong push by most universities that first-year students to live on campus, is also part of the Canadian university experience. Most campus ministers/ministries in Canada, with the exception of those closely associated with a local church, tend to be connected to Student Life, either through the ministry being recognized as student group or with the chaplain working directly with a division of Student Life, such as wellness, a mult-faith centre, or even international student support.
In the Netherlands, however, student life is more likely to refer to "how you spend your leisure time at university" than look like a Canadian Student Life department. The exception to this is a growing focus on wellness, particularly with pressure being placed on universities in response to studies showing students are not doing well.
Furthermore, most universities in the Netherlands do not provide housing for students. The few places that do have 'student housing' available generally work with housing corporations and tend to limit the availability to international students. (Dutch) students are given free travel on public transit on either weekdays or in the weekend. This means that many students are at home frequently during their studies, either through living at home or by travelling home most weekends.
Given the significant differences in campus life, it should be no surprise that campus ministry in the two different countries looks quite different. At the same time, there were interesting parallels and opportunities to learn from each other, which I'll say more about as I continue to reflect on my Sabbatical experience.
The above has been cross-posted on the UofT Christian Reformed Campus Ministry website, which sponsored my sabbatical.
28 July 2025
Concerns and comments from the CRC related to campus ministry
Earlier this year the Christian Courier did a survey of the Christian Reformed Church. One article reflecting on that survey, And there’s more, highlighted some of the various comments of people in the survey. The following two comments at the end struck me for how they related to the work we do in campus ministry :
“Conservatism in Canada is surging in YOUNG PEOPLE. They want clear doctrine, a different, non-masochistic way of living, and are flooding the church. Ask yourself an honest question: what do the five thriving churches near you have in common? They aren’t ‘woke.’”
“The biggest question that I have heard within my church is, ‘Is there still space for me in the CRC?’ This question does not come from people who have a clear opposition to the CRC’s doctrine, in fact, some are aligned doctrinally with the CRC. The question comes from wondering if the CRC is still a denomination that invites complexity on issues, both theologically and in practice. They are concerned that the CRC is drifting away from the Reformed heart of wonder and investigation, with a healthy hesitation to pass absolute statements on how to live out biblical truths.”
14 July 2025
Parenting and prayers
One of the things I've learned from my Sabbatical is a growing desire to write more, in the hopes that this helps me both process and share hopeful things that I've learned. It also means sharing wisdom that I've gained from others. The article, A Pray (The Banner) by Melissa Kuipers, a former campus minster, struck me:
“Can you do a pray?” my 3-year-old asks through the rustling of sheets... I like the activeness of turning the verb into a noun. Sometimes a prayer is too formal. So often I reach for the most rehearsed cliché words in my prayers for him. But a pray reminds me I can be playful when speaking to God, I can be thankful for the pedestrian things my child cares about: gratitude for a shortbread cookie from a friend who visited and listened to his long story about all the highlights of his 3-year-life, grief about yet another yellow fallen leaf from the jade plant, blessings for our loved ones living a plane trip away. A pray is ongoing. A pray is an action noun, like a kiss or a game. A pray is on a child’s terms.
Melissa continues to talk about the busy-ness of life and a child and the challenges of spending time in contemplation. At the same time, her writing and description of her child's developing faith (see here under) bear witness to being present in the moment. Bear witness to paying attention to how God is working. Or in her words, that "God is here in this moment, I think. My kids speak God’s words so often."
The following is one more excerpt from the article, which to me captures some of the delight of speaking about faith with children:
As I am about to start the bedtime “pray,” the 3-year-old suddenly transforms into an otter in the waves of the blanket. I wrap him in kelp for a few minutes, and then ask, “Shall I pray for you?”
He reaches over and takes my face in his hands. “Yes, Little One,” he says.
“Dear God,” I begin.
“God is everywhere,” he responds.
“Yes.”
“God lived for a very long time.”
“God is still alive. God has always been.”
“I wish we could see God.” He speaks the words of Moses on the mountain, pulling the sheet over his face like a cloud.
“Me too. ...”