I’ll write till I die, I suppose. Writing got much harder for me after Blue Like Jazz took off, and until this last book I even considered finding other work, mostly because my voice began to feel affected. Million Miles changed that because, for reasons I don’t understand, I stopped caring how the words made me sound, and cared more about how the words sounded. The process reminded me that I could actually love writing the way I did before I got published. I hope whatever book comes next is as much fun.
That said, though, there has always been a job I’d rather have than writing. And I recently got that job. I won’t quit my day job, but I’m ecstatic to have the part-time work.
I was recently asked to host an interview program that will release as a small-group curriculum and, perhaps, a podcast. The program is called Converge, and the aim of the show is to explore that place where the stuff of faith meets the stuff of life. EMI will be distributing the material, and I’m not certain when it will release, but I owe them and the people at Creative Trust a debt of gratitude for giving me the job I’ve wanted for years.
Nearly every night I fall asleep to either Charlie Rose or Tavis Smiley. I prefer interviews on PBS because, without the pressing need to sell advertising, the guests are usually more interesting, and less sensational. It’s a job even Larry King wants, saying recently that he gets tired of interviewing the nanny of Michael Jackson’s kids when we are building up to another war in Afghanistan.
I know it’s not a late-night show on PBS, but at least with Converge I get to sit with some of the smartest theologians in the world and listen, rather than talk. And the listening is already proving profound results.
A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Dan Allendar and Dr. Tremper Longman for three hours on marriage and for another three hours on Ecclesiastes and false idols. At one point, while Dan Allendar described the beauty and purpose of marriage, there was hardly a dry eye in the room. Both the conversation about marriage and the conversation about false idols were fascinating, and I hope to have clips for you soon.
Monday I will fly back to Nashville to spend two days interviewing Lauren Winner about the spiritual disciplines and then Phyllis Tickle regarding story, and the elements of a human narrative. Lauren is the author of the acclaimed memoir Girl Meets God, but we will mostly be talking about the content in her book Mudhouse Sabbath, about having grown up Jewish, and converting to Christianity while holding fast to the physical disciplines and ancient traditions of her faith. And Phyllis Tickle is widely considered one of America’s most accomplished spiritual writers, whose book The Shaping of a Life accounts a rich character transformation sharpened by the chisel of internal and external conflict.
Are you familiar with their work?
If you’ve read Lauren or Phyllis, is there a specific question regarding spiritual disciplines or story that you’d like me to ask? I’d love to slip your question in. I can’t promise you it will make the edits, but who knows.
All that to say, before I head back to Nashville for the next series of interviews, I’d love to run the guests and topics by you in hopes of a broader understanding of the topic. Why not include this blog as part of the program, you know.
I’ll fill you in as the series moves forward. We should have something available for you to see in January.
Okay, questions for Phyllis or Lauren?
Best,
Don
