When I’m going through times of incredible doubt about my vocation; when I’m experiencing a dramatic shift in beliefs; when I my theology is crashing and burning; when I wonder if I took a wrong turn; when I acknowledge my life is more than half over and what have I accomplished; when confusion is the air I breathe; when my mountains fall into the sea; and when I realize that I will use the internet, movies, tv, alcohol, tobacco, or anything in all of creation as a sedative against all my anguish… I realize I have people to love and be loved by. This is my daughter Casile going out to a prom, and her mom, my beautiful and wise wife, Lisa. And there are the beautiful flowers. In the background is the majestic Kennebecasis River that we live on. Sometimes it is only love and beauty that holds me together.
Check out my t-shirts HERE. I’m growing my inventory all the time. And check out my contemplative art here.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
Beautiful – family and statement
Well spoken…and well received.
Sometimes it is only love and beauty that holds me together.(NP)
And even that at times is tenuous at best.
You are a very blessed man.
“I acknowledge that my life is already half over and what have I accomplished” OK, well, that would make anyone hurt. My take is that we are already eternal, (well, aren’t we?) so I have all the time in this world and the next, no pressure. I so want to encourage you – fight for your God-given right to be joyful. I do and I have and I will continue. Love & care from SoCal…
Beautiful!
“I acknowledge that my life is already half over and what have I accomplished” – I wonder if a 16y/o Jesus said the same thing?
If this picture is anything to go by, you have a wonderful family and are hugely blessed. And I am sure I speak for many when I say that you have also blessed many, many people. Riled a few too, no doubt – but that would count as a blessing to others!
Anyway, thanks for the cartoons; the thoughts; the honesty that has allowed me to be myself without feeling condemned.
Thanks.
(I meant a 17 y/o Jesus – and I understand that such a statement is not without its critics!)
thanks all. well… to feel free to be yourself without condemnation is a wonderful thing.
So beautifully stated, and so true. Love is everything, and God is love… so.
It is so simple… it is difficult to grasp.
Very true. Sometimes, I just need to break from everything else and just stare at my wife for a while. It makes her a bit nervous, but she’s still worth staring at.
And as far as life being half over … Teresa of Avila’s ministry really got going when she was 45. She died at 67. Almost all of her ministry, all of her incredible writings, her co-founding of the Discalced Carmelites, all that got her canonized and eventually made a Doctor of the Catholic Church, pretty much everything she accomplished as one of the most notable women in church history, she accomplished in the LAST THIRD of her life. So I wouldn’t panic.
Happens to me when I see my daughter too :c)
guess it’s not very nice to write as first comment on your blog “wow your daughter is gorgeous”, haha.
so i just wondered how i can imagine myself the vineyard church. is that catholic? evangelic?
hey congrats chackachacka!! thanks for the compliment to my daughter. the vineyard is a movement within the protestant tradition, considered generally evangelical-charismatic-contemporary-ish
….” considered generally evangelical-charismatic-contemporary-ish” , my favorite part is the “ish”.
David, your vulnerability touches me so deeply. I was so moved by this. Your real-ness factor raises my own every time I come in contact with it. Thank you.
I was touched by the sheer beauty of this photo. Your wife and daughter are beautiful, and the picture itself is lovely. You are blessed indeed.
Great photo.
Beautiful ladies in your life!
You are in good company, David. Many great church leaders went through much of what you are, also.
Hang in there! This too shall pass.
Your wife and daughter are gorgeous! I echo the “hang in there.” I think pastors are perfect targets by the enemy for discouragement and depression. I will say a prayer for you today….
Where the hell is Kennebecasis???
new brunswick canada. googlemap it.
Huge blessings from God having beautiful ladies in your life.
barrenmind: agreed
Sorry, didn’t realise you were Canadian as came to this from a link in the UK. We don’t have places with such long names here, except in Wales.
I wish I had some beautiful ladies in MY life. Your daughter has a beautiful cleavage – trust me, I’m a connoisseur.
Using the Internet, alcohol etc to stave off anguish is totally normal. That’s what God gave us them for. Not sure about the tobacco though….
Okay, that is seriously the sweetest and most beautiful and most true.
to perjure kate..”You are a very blessed man.”