- Department: Education
- University: University of Central Florida
- Location: Florida
I was a cradle Catholic who left the faith at 16 when I could no longer reconcile my experiences with the trite answers to my deepest questions given to me by my religious ed teachers. I then wandered through a variety of religions, including Theravedan Buddhism, paganism, Hinduism, and mysticism, with a brief stint in atheism. At the age of 33, I had a profound, Damascus-like experience that convinced me that Jesus was real, despite my prior scoffing and unbelief. I spent 9 months of wrestling with this disturbing new knowledge with huge implications for my life. I read voraciously, finding CS Lewis' Mere Christianity an intellectual balm for my painful questions. I struggled with depression and anxiety as my life fell apart around me. Finally, worn out from resisting Him who had captured my heart, I fell to my knees and surrendered my life to Love Incarnate. That was on April 30, 2001. Immediately--and I mean this literally--my life was transformed to be SO MUCH BETTER, and I have been singing God's praises ever since.
Favorite Quote
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
Friends describe me
as intense, loving, loyal.
My hobbies
Playing electric bass guitar, cycling, weight lifting, walking, writing, knitting things that don't require a pattern.
Fantasy dinner guests
Jesus, for sure. Mary and Mary Magdalene too.
Best advice I ever received
Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death." This verse changed my life. It made me realize that many of the beliefs I held onto so tightly might, in fact, be wrong.
My undergrad alma mater
New College of Florida
My worst subject in school
Ceramics--it was the only class I didn't finish. I couldn't create 10 sculptures; art could not be rushed!
If I weren't a professor, I would
Be a yoga teacher and freelance writer.
Favorite books
The Bible, Mere Christianity, CS Lewis' Space Trilogy, Michael O'Brien's Father Elijah, Lord of the Rings series, Twilight series (seriously! great themes in here).
Favorite movies
The Unbearable Lightness of Being; The Fisher King; City of Angels; Wings of Desire; What Dreams May Come; The Seventh Seal; Walkabout; Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet.
Favorite coffee
Starbucks Sweet Cream Cold Brew
My latest accomplishment
Being promoted to full professor.
Current Research
Working on an NSF grant to promote positive changes in Calculus instruction.