Years ago, when I was a Presbyterian pastor

I’d sneak out of my country parish to the nearby university and hide out in the library for a day, reading articles and books by all kinds of theologians, Buddhists, scientists, and spiritual and philosophical teachers, all the while taking notes in my journal.

It was my safe haven beyond the scrutiny of people who thought I should only read approved Christianity.

One day I was there reading a book on Buddhism when a senior pastor came up behind me, looked over my shoulder, and told me I shouldn’t be reading that, that there was plenty of Christian material to read.

I was young and vulnerable and felt judged and ashamed.

It didn’t stop me though.

Because my hunger for truth was stronger than my hunger for approval.

I just surprised myself by writing that. I do hunger for approval. Believe it or not! BUT my hunger for truth IS stronger than my hunger for approval. Wow!

I kept reading, researching, thinking, questioning, meditating and contemplating, journaling, searching searching searching, until finally one day decades later the peace of mind I so sought came.