This blog began in 2011 while I was an undergraduate student, as a way to share retreat talks, essays, and reflections on my experiences at Xavier University. Its primary purpose was to detail my study abroad experience in Shanghai and serve as a “public journal” of that summer in China.
Inspired by a capstone seminar and the writings of Johann Baptist Metz and others, I decided to more actively engage this blog as a space for “Public Theology and Spirituality.” As I transitioned into my career in education, my posts began to serve as an honest, incomplete, and imperfect space for reflection and dialogue. Often, these posts provided a way for me to reflect and “extrovert” through various events in the world and the rumblings of my heart.
I ask that you read these posts with the Ignatian Presupposition: “to put a good interpretation on another’s statement than to condemn it” (Spiritual Exercises #22), knowing that many of these posts were written in a particular context and for a particular purpose. One could easily find fault, scandal, heresy, or prejudice in a particular post or posts. I would ask for your best interpretation, trusting that time, formation, and reconciliation have likely occurred.
I welcome any dialogue on any topic that might raise questions, comments, or concerns.
nicholsrobert 