Whelp, after three weeks on the road, I’m back on Martha’s Vineyard for another crazy summer! Here’s my current residency schedule:
Mark your calendars!
It’s been quite some time since I’ve written you — three weeks on the road with a family of five can be pretty time-consuming! We cut a route from Martha’s Vineyard all the way down to Nashville and back with some very cool stops.
First, we stopped in the Catskills where I played a concert at one of my favorite spots, Urban Cowboy! Isla surprised us all by dancing for everyone as I serenaded the audience.
A windingly beautiful drive through the Catskills and Poconos brought us to State College, PA, where I had an interview scheduled with world religions scholar and renowned author Philip Jenkins. However, I knew I wouldn’t make it to meet him in time right around the moment my two daughters spontaneously erupted in car sickness around hour two of our drive. Jenkins and I rescheduled to an online interview, where we covered a lot of ground: lost Christianities, secularization in Iran, the massive growth of Christianity in the Global South and the obsoletion of the modern stereotype of Christianity as “the white man’s religion”, the return of Generation Z to Catholic tradition, the role of “end times” beliefs in society, and much more. My favorite part was about the Cave of Treasures…check it out below!
Chaplin’s Honky Tonk Saloon was an absolute hoot! Will have to find an excuse to come back again and play!
We spent a long weekend in Steubenville where I holed up at the St. Paul Center for the first-ever Former Protestant Clergy Converts Conference. I met many men and women such as myself who all had their own unique stories about giving up their beloved pulpits to join the pews in the Catholic Church. The highlight for me was connecting with two of my favorite theology scholars, Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. John Bergsma. I was delighted to discover that Dr. Hahn shares my fascination with fulfilled eschatology (the study of “the last things” from the point of view that Biblical prophecies were fulfilled in the past rather than our future). I left the conference with a sense of confirmation and encouragement that not only am I not “running in vain” — you know, I somewhat regularly hear from trolls, both Protestant and Catholic, who come out of the woodwork claiming that a Catholic layman can’t be substitute preaching at Protestant churches and releasing Bible studies online — a claim which was shot down by the experts at St. Paul Center. In fact, I learned that I have far more freedom to live out my ministry vocation as a Catholic layman than I expected. With that liberating encouragement came much inspiration.
Here’s a photo of yours truly with Dr. Scott Hahn and his wife Kimberley. If you’re a nerd like me, than you know this is a very cool photo.
There was one more bonus highlight: I ended up performing my song “Year of the Jubilee” to cap off Dr. John Bergsma’s incredible lecture on the Jubilee (here’s a taste of it, and he has an entire book about it). One of the attendees filmed my performance, and here it is:
After being stuck in an AirBnB while I was conferencing all weekend, the kids (and mama) were ripe for a fun change of pace. We found this insane place called “Other Worlds” along our route in Columbus. The craziest immersive art installation I’ve ever seen. Here’s just a sample platter:
Life-sized Noah’s Ark. ‘Nuff said.
They had camels. Isla rode one.
A fine stage and a great family-friendly venue. Will definitely be back to play!
We spent the week in East Nashville. I’ve been to Nashville countless times over the years but this was my first time “living there” rather than just passing through on tour. I’ll tell ya, now that I live on an island, I now appreciate the types of foods you can only find on the mainland, and Nashville didn’t disappoint. Hot chicken. Tex Mex. Barbecue of every style. There was even a Thai-Texas BBQ joint. Wild. We of course had the best Nashville cuisine sherpa you could ask for, my brother Griffin!
Griff and I worked a double shift, first a crawfish boil at Bobby’s Idle Hour:
Then a swanky acoustic set at Urban Cowboy Nashville:
Got to enjoy coffee and a long, spiritual chat with my new friend and business collaborator, artist manager Jim Gray. I love being able to talk business and spiritual life in the same sitting.
And by divine providence, who happened to be wandering around Nashville but one of my most talented brothers in Christ, Taunton MA’s own Eric Lee Brumley. South Shore represent! Here we are at the Johnny Cash Museum.
The kids, by the way, were unimpressed by the Johnny Cash Museum, so we took them to a more kid-friendly spot. The Adventure Science Center was just the ticket. The girls had a ball. Angus, I assure you, did too, in spite of the face he’s making in this photo. It was also very refreshing to see so many homeschool families, and even homeschool groups, out and about during school hours. Where we’re from, they’re a bit fewer and further between, so there was a sense of camaraderie and Isla had a blast with every new friend she made.
Our sherpa escorted us through Opryland. Katie wants to live there now.
I mean, it has its own river. And banana trees.
Here’s Katie and I in front of the Ryman. We’ll play there one day soon. I’ll probably be in my 40’s. Unless one of you has the connection and wants to set something up sooner!
We kissed Nashville “Goodbye until next time” and hit 81 back up North. Katie and I were gazing out the car window when signs for Luray Caverns caught our eye. Boy, that is a spontaneous pit stop I’m glad we took.
There was a Veterans’ Memorial in there, and these sweet kiddos broke out into an impromptu National Anthem. And everyone else followed. That’s that southern patriotism I’ve heard all about!
We were bowled over by the beauty of Shenandoah Valley.
We came, we saw whales. Fiona couldn’t believe “Baby Beluga” was coming to life before her eyes.
Next thing you know, we’re back in Massachusetts.
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