Hanging out in Jeremiah’s gates and meeting famous people! I tend like Jeremiah to like to go wherever the living dialogue is happening within, or just outside the gates of the church or synagogue, mosque or marketplace, art gallery—where culture, spirituality and true faith meet! God is always having a fresh conversation there!

When I met the American interviewer Bill Moyers and his wife in Paris once: (working on a few short pieces on amazing humans i’ve been privileged to meet!)

Bill Moyers, the great interviewer and cultural commentator, and I talked about his famous interviews with Joseph Campbell, and about growing up baptist, and how we were able to find Christ despite Christianity. Good talk. We also talked about living our spiritual journeys “out loud” and how it effects people when people are living out their faith, even when it’s in a crisis, or transition.

His series on Joseph Campbell had by then become a staple in religious studies, and is still the most watched public television series ever; although i disagreed with them both on nearly everything (and Campbell’s version of Jung never caught me all the way, though i respected that he was trying to re-mythologize society—don’t throw out global stories, but not every story causes you to live well!), i found that he wanted to re-mythologize life was interesting-to put the supernatural narratives back into the story! Some stories are more true than others though.

That he also wanted to equalize all myths never sat with me, nor did his opinions on Jesus (borrowed directly from Jung, i think). Each “myth” some of which aren’t myths, bear unique fruit when lived out!

Regardless, i like how one person’s journey can honor and bring useful dialogue to others. Bill was kind to the best thinkers of our times, and generous in giving them a voice and critiquing them in Love, or at least, kindness. I always liked that about Bill Moyers.

And Bill and his wife were kind. We talked about the privilege of getting to do what you love, and our mutual respect for Henri Nouwen, through whom he edged back toward the church! I’ve been blessed to meet some people who have lived an “out loud metaphor,” and kept their hearts open along the way! I guess people would call them the seekers, but many of them are also pathways for others to explore afresh the possibility of true spirituality.

Plus, like Jeremiah, i just like hanging out in the gates where the real conversation is going on!