About me: “I have”, as poet Stanley Kunitz put it, “walked through many lives…and I am not who I was, but some principle of being abides from which I struggle not to stray.” I am husband, father, brother, nephew, friend. Professionally I have been a peace and justice advocate, national radio broadcaster, author and poet, national organizer and speaker working to end child poverty and protect human rights, and a Unitarian Universalist parish minister. The principle of being that “abides” from which “I struggle not to stray” is to live each day in gratitude, awe and wonder celebrating the spirit of life and the God of love that asks me, again and again, to live compassionately seeking peace and justice wherever I go.
Brief Background I have practiced speaking without a manuscript for more than 20 years. My love of the spoken word began with hosting a nationally syndicated radio program on foreign and domestic policy issues. In this role I became acutely awarded of the power effective speech had to influence lives and shape public policy. I began to experiment with unscripted public speaking during my years of national peace and justice ministry for the Unitarian Universalist Association. Here I used this style of speaking in keynote speeches, workshop and retreat presentations, and in a variety of private, public and political settings. After entering the parish ministry, I began a regular practice of Speaking by Heart and became a national CENTER Presenter on this subject for the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and created independent program for activists and religious leaders, including a program co-sponsored by Harvard Divinity School for its students and community leaders.
My Books One of the unforeseen benefits of my practice of Speaking by Heart was a deepening love of the written word. My practice of memorizing poetry and stories fostered a trust that beautiful and powerful words could also flow onto the written page. The poems, prayers and meditations in my two books and other writings are the fruits of my practice of Speaking by Heart. I believe that blessing can also come to you.
