by David Hayward | Jan 5, 2013 | Exercises
Today’s Saturday Spiritual Supplement is about nature. The times I feel most immediate, sane and in touch with the Unnamable is on a clear night, absolute silence, under the moon and the stars, particularly in winter. I may or may not be smoking my pipe. Alone....
by David Hayward | Jan 3, 2013 | Feelings
Lisa and I drove our daughter and her boyfriend to Ottawa. They are both Carleton University students now. I like the city. Who knows? I was thinking about you guys a lot yesterday during my travels. I want to assure many of you of something. Once you leave the...
by David Hayward | Jan 2, 2013 | Feelings
Hi my friends. I’m moving my daughter today to Ottawa. She’s switching universities and moving away to another province and another city… at least a 12 hour drive there. We have to get her settled. I’m going to be rather quiet for the next few...
by David Hayward | Jan 1, 2013 | Ideas
After I had my transformational dream in May of 2009, I realized that I had a very unhealthy image of myself. I saw that I grew up nurturing and being nurtured in a very negative self-view together with the whole human race. I fell in love with Reformed Theology in my...
by David Hayward | Dec 31, 2012 | Ideas
I have had many revelations along the way. Many “ah-hah!” moments. But none were greater than a simple little dream I had in May of 2009: I am looking up at a huge waterfall. I can’t see over the rim. The water pouring over the rim is infinite. The...
by David Hayward | Dec 30, 2012 | Feelings
Night can be a scary place to be. Darkness is rarely welcomed. But I have seen some of the most amazing things at night. The crystal stars. And a few times, the northern lights. Majestic trees silhouetted against a brilliant sky. Each one singularly beautiful. Now, in...
by David Hayward | Dec 29, 2012 | Exercises
For our Saturday Spiritual Supplement today I want to talk about Byron Katie’s “The Work”. A few of you have mentioned her so I thought I would introduce the rest of you to Katie and The Work. It is an effective tool. One of her favorite quotes for...
by David Hayward | Dec 28, 2012 | Feelings
When I was in the church, especially as a pastor, I felt incredible pressure to conform to the expectations of the congregations I served. There was always a fine line I had to walk between talking truth and talking in ways that didn’t upset people too much....
by David Hayward | Dec 27, 2012 | Ideas
Something we have to get used to when we leave the church is not hearing, over and over again, the “ought and must and should” routine that, in my experience and observation, is the fuel that runs the engine of religion. Every week what was required of us...
by David Hayward | Dec 22, 2012 | Spirituality
It is possible and I would even say necessary to have a spirituality outside of church. That’s my opinion of what a healthy church is anyway: a collective of uniquely independent spiritual pilgrims. Therefore, it comes down to how to have a healthy spirituality...
by David Hayward | Dec 21, 2012 | Feelings
Just leave a comment and you’re entered into the draw to win one of 2 Sophia 2013 Calendars! Contest ends tonight midnight my time. Good luck!
by David Hayward | Dec 20, 2012 | David's Letters, I'm confused, I'm sad, I'm scared
Don’t let anyone rush your grief! You’ve left the church. That’s heavy! Grieve it. Feel it to the full. Go ahead and deny that it hurts. Then bawl your eyes out once in a while. Get angry. Get frustrated. Think about going back then change your mind again. Get...
by David Hayward | Dec 19, 2012 | Ideas
It is very difficult not to impute into the very unassuming original story all the grand assumptions of our time. We don’t know what happened. We can’t rely on the texts for historical accuracy. Our minds gather all the accretions built up over the...
by David Hayward | Dec 18, 2012 | Feelings
I remember during one Christmas season as a pastor of a church I brought a nativity scene made with rough olive tree wood from around Bethlehem. I talked about how unseemly it was and no important people were there. It was a rather uppity church with important people...
by David Hayward | Dec 17, 2012 | Feelings
As promised, I told you guys that as members of this site you would have exclusive access to my more private life and thoughts. So I wanted to share with you something I found in one of my files the other day. This was delivered in the Spring of 2010. It is the last...
by David Hayward | Dec 15, 2012 | Exercises, Videos
This is a video of me parked outside of the last church I pastored. This was taken this morning. What a strange, emotional feeling. I do not advise anybody to do what I explained in this video. That has to be totally spontaneous, voluntary and natural. Don’t...
