I grew up with a strong sense of dualism—the sacred and the profane, heaven and hell, saved and lost. In the Free Will Baptist Church, I was taught the Arminian way, yet it still carried the weight of a worldview where humanity was seen as sinful and bound for judgment. Though I did not embrace the Calvinistic doctrines of total depravity, unconditional surrender, limited atonement, irresistible grace, or perseverance of the saints, I still carried the heavy burden of seeing humanity as broken and stained.
Over the years, I have walked a different path. What began as questions and longings has turned into a journey across traditions, a weaving together of wisdom that has brought me into a new understanding of faith. Along the way, I have discovered the gifts of Quaker silence, Native American harmony, Progressive Christian love, and even Taoist balance. This is my story.
My Ancestors and the Quaker Path
My connection to the Quaker tradition is not just intellectual—it is part of my story. My ancestor, Peter Pearson, came to America as a Quaker in the early 1700s to escape persecution in England. I discovered this when my sister Sue and I researched our family history over a ten-year period, from 1990 to 2001. That discovery stirred a question in me: what did it really mean to be a Quaker?
In Quaker worship, I encountered something profoundly simple and deeply moving. Sitting in silence, waiting for the Inner Light, I found that God is not locked away in heaven but present in each heart. No preacher, no ritual, no performance—just the Spirit speaking in the quiet. This simplicity spoke to me, especially as someone who grew up with sermons heavy on judgment and guilt. The Quaker way reminded me that truth, peace, equality, and integrity flow from the Spirit’s leading. It is not about escaping this world, but about living faithfully within it.
My Denver Years and Native American Spirituality
From 2006 to 2012, I lived in Denver, and it was there that I encountered Native American spirituality in a personal way. I met Frank, a Lakota Sioux man, who generously shared with me the ways of his people. What first drew me in was the sense of relationship. Rather than separating the sacred from the profane, everything is seen as sacred: the Earth, the waters, the winds, the animals, the ancestors. The Creator and the spirit world are not distant, but close, woven into every breath. This way of seeing frees me from a dualistic worldview and reminds me that I, too, am part of the sacred circle of life. Balance and harmony are not just ideals, they are ways of living.
Discovering Progressive Christianity
While in Denver, I also encountered many Progressive Christians. I read Kissing Fish by Roger Wolsey, a pastor from Boulder, and it opened my eyes to a Christianity that was inclusive, open, and justice-centered. Later, I was influenced by Patrick S. Cheng’s Radical Love and From Sin to Amazing Grace, and then by Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ. These writings helped me reframe Christianity—not as a system of fear, but as a path of expansive love.
Progressive Christianity opened a different door for me: one where Jesus’ life and teachings are central, not as a dogma to enforce, but as a way of radical love and justice. Here, inclusivity is not an afterthought but a core expression of the Gospel. Worship is welcoming, questions are encouraged, and creation care is embraced as a spiritual responsibility. For me, this way reclaims Christianity from fear and offers it back as love in action.
Taoism and New Insights
Later, while serving as a teacher in the Classic Seniors Program at King’s Way United Methodist Church in Springfield, Missouri, I met Professor Larry Campbell, a retired math professor from Missouri State University. He taught classes on Taoism, comparing its wisdom with Christianity. Through his teaching, I saw more clearly how truths can flow across traditions—how Taoism and Christianity, though different, can echo each other in their pursuit of harmony and depth.
Where My Path Leads
When I weave these traditions and experiences together, I find a spirituality that feels alive:
- From Native American wisdom, I’ve learned kinship with all creation.
- From Quaker practice, I’ve learned to listen for the still, small voice within.
- From Progressive Christianity, I’ve learned that love must be lived out in justice and inclusion.
- From Taoist insights, I’ve learned to honor the flow of life and the wisdom of balance.
In Essence
My path has taken me from a faith of fear and dualism into a spirituality of relationship, silence, and love. Native American spirituality reminds me that everything is sacred. Quaker spirituality teaches me to listen and live simply in truth. Progressive Christianity calls me to follow Jesus through justice, compassion, and inclusion. Taoist wisdom adds yet another layer, showing me harmony and flow.
Together, these traditions form the spiritual home I never knew I was searching for. They remind me that faith is not about rigid belief or fear of judgment—it is about relationship: with the Divine, with the Earth, and with one another.
The Curious Pilgrims 