Doug Harrison, The Patient

For a more interesting take on a slice of my life,  one of my friends does a better job of it here. Hi, Remember Me? Well, I Wrote About you.

This is a place of faith; a hard earned, threadbare faith of a misfit to whom faith does not always come easily.   I am a lousy joiner and have therefore found myself frustrated and at-odds with the community of faith while also believing the Church is the one true love of my life.

Then there are the, ‘burners.‘  I also find myself very much in love with people who  are very different lot.  These folks don’t really think outside the box as much as they live outside it.  Occasionally they’ll lob a piece of art or a protest back inside over the walls to keep things interesting.    I live a lot of life “in between.”   I am getting better at it.

I am not an actual monk but a Benedictine, “oblate,” which means I do my best to live the Rule of St. Benedict in my daily life and I make a commitment to St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo California.  Hence the ‘outpatient monk.’  I don’t do this in-house.  I take my Benedict outside the walls.   Well it is that plus the fact I sit outside of most things  and I need a lot of help,  …so there is that.

The reasons I am a mis-fit are extensive. Have you ever heard of Hieronymous Bosch? I feel like his “Garden of Earthly Delights,” is a strange biography for me.  Whatever.

They tell me I have a couple of degrees – something about social ethics and theology –  but as far as I know, ‘degrees’ are not theological  or creative categories.  It does mean I have committed to the process.  I have tried to dig pretty deep.   But the idea of, ‘expert,’ is a big problem if we are talking about being like God.

OH!  …I like to burn things.

So I am writing for both of these kinds of friends and for everyone in between.  I write for you. If nothing else I think you will find that when you lurk around the likes of me there is little to fear. There is room to pray, fail, burn things and to surprise yourself.

I carry a little baggage, however, unlike most other people’s baggage, mine is bright colored, largely sequined notably awkward to move around.  I rarely match my socks.  I find God in things-undone.  I usually sit near  the exit.   I am always a little homesick.

Nevertheless, this is the place of faith.  A hard earned, threadbare faith of a misfit to whom faith does not always come easily. That is why I can hope this is therefore a place of grace for all of the misfits, lousy joiners, and other homesick souls tempted to sit near the exit.  I’ll hold a place for you.

If you are interested in doing spiritual direction with Doug, you can find out  more information on FaceBook at facebook.com/DougHarrisonCSD or by completing the form below.

Again, if  you were wondering more about me,  one of my friends does a better job of it here. Hi, Remember Me? Well, I Wrote About you.