Blog Preface & Introduction
Greetings beloved
I welcome you to the beginning of a journey of research, questions, and philosophy. My name is Ray and at the time I have started writing, I am 19 years young — which is the exact reason that qualifies me to write on subjects of faith, morality, and philosophy.
This endeavor was first stirred by a brother whose perspective offered me glimpses into the ‘fullness of God’. Do I align with everything he shares? No. Yet, his conviction challenged me to reexamine some deeply held values. As a fellow seeker and thinker, I feel compelled to organize my thoughts and earnestly pursue the truth found in Jesus Christ.
A separate conversation with another brother further encouraged me to give voice to my thoughts through some form of creative expression. So I'll be using this imperfect craft of mine. He emphasized the importance of pouring out what’s within; for him, that takes the form of photography, capturing moments before they pass. For you, it might be painting a picture of a little boy.
In a world saturated with noise, urgency, and opinion, I find it increasingly necessary to pause and think. To wrestle. To ask why I believe what I believe, and to allow my convictions to be tested, not just preserved (1 Peter 1:6-7). This blog is not a display of certainty, but a space of sincere exploration. I do not write as one who has arrived, but as one who is walking (maybe stumbling) toward wisdom.
I have thousands of questions to ask. And I’m hoping to get some answers out of it, but enigmatically, my desire is to unlock even more questions, inviting a lifetime’s worth of discovery and reflection. The foundations of my writing will be based upon Scripture, but not limited. I also include readings and life experiences to capture what I believe are the ineffable movements of my mind.
Please know that I am praying for you—whether you are a young man wandering through the long road of life, or a man of age, hoping not to waste what remains. Perhaps you’re not even on the official send list for this blog. Still, to anyone these words may reach, even in passing, my prayer is for you. May you behold the all-satisfying glory of Jesus Christ. I plead with God to make His Word sweeter than honey to your soul, and His presence more precious to you than life itself.
The ultimate aim of this blog is to grow in my understanding of love (specifically, the mysterious and overwhelming love of God). So I hope that all can come, just as you are. For we are all sinners and fall far from what is truly right. Yet even in our flaws, there remains an open invitation to reason, to grapple with truth, and to be made new. My aim is to be nuanced but firm in areas where I have strong convictions so that it would be of benefit to you. So I pray this space becomes one of grace; a place where honest questions are welcomed, and thoughtful feedback on differing views is encouraged.
Thank you again,
Ray
