I was interviewed about the book on a podcast a couple days ago, and while I don't think I did too badly with it, the time went by quickly-- as I experienced it-- and the interviewer didn't get around to asking me some questions I thought he'd ask. As a result, there remains a bit of unclarity on certain points, nor did we get to the essence, the heart of these points. It so happens I have a passion for clarity and getting to the heart of the matter. In fact, that passion was a driving force behind my writing this book. And as I see it, that is a driving force behind spiritual discernment itself. But here we have a bit of paradox, since I do appreciate ambiguity when it comes to art. These paintings I'm doing are full of ambiguity.
Hence, I'm going to go on with the interview as it has gone on in my mind. A short excerpt, if you will. I could just state all these things in a non-interview format, but I like the clarity an interview can give. I'll try to keep it focused on the book itself rather than about me, since it could veer towards something that sounds narcissistic otherwise-- but book and author do overlap inextricably at times. Just know that I know there is something a little whimsical-- ridiculous, even-- about interviewing oneself.
One more thing about the Youtube video of the podcast.
https://youtu.be/xPj2qvfANEY?si=BcUy6Rx4JloVnVhC
It already has prompted a comment from a hater. Well, I'm glad it's possible for random people to come across it. And maybe I should take this as a sign I'm doing something right. But it makes me mindful of possible readers of this who aren't on board with all of this. I don't wish to impose anything on anyone-- even if I could. This has a strong bearing on my art, but my art can certainly be appreciated apart from its spiritual aspect.
Question: As you wrote this book, what sort of audience did you have in mind?
DT: Well, I realize authors are supposed to write to a specific audience, but it's just hard for me to think in those terms. Mainly, the audience was me. It's me, wrestling with the things I wrestle with, but inviting others to process along with me. I write unto others as I would have others write unto me. That's a biblical principle, isn't it?
Q: It is. But the title says it's for young people.
DT: That it does. But believe it or not, I am writing with a young person's mindset. By that I mean-- well, here's what I mean. I've been in adult Sunday school classes and Bible studies and have had the thought, "Can we not just once back up a bit and define our terms, examine these phrases we bandy about, poke and prod at our working assumptions?" It can be a valuable thing if people can look at biblical matters as if hearing about them for the first time. It gives clarity by bringing to light some fuzzy things one might glide past without noticing something is a bit off.
Q: So you set out to write a sort of Christianity for Dummies?
DT: Yes, you could say that, though I imagine there already is such a book. And I imagine it is a lot more conventional and didactic than what I wrote.
Q: And more systematic.
DT: Undoubtedly.
Q: So is it for young people, or is it not?
DT: I believe it is, even though I'm not coming from the standpoint of a youth worker or someone who has researched "youth issues of our times". I'm looking at more universal issues, and I believe what I offer is relevant to young and old. The book centers around what I refer to as "the essential question", which is the most important question for anyone anywhere anytime. I use an illustration in the book which encapsulates what spiritual discernment is as I see it. It's a picture of Alexander the Great cutting through the Gordian knot. You know the story?
Q: Yes, the Gordian Knot. It was a knot of ropes that was supposed to be impossible to untie, but Alexander did a bit of lateral thinking and instead of dealing with individual strands just sliced through.
DT: So I contend that the essential question cuts through all other issues of life.
Q: And what is that question?
DT: "Who do you say Jesus is?" That's the test John talks about in I John 4:1 where it says, "Test the spirits."
Q: And that brings us to that word "spirits", which is also in the title. And I want you to talk a little about the title. In what way is it a guide to spirits?
DT: I chose that title as a hook, to engender a bit of curiosity-- and I hope people see something a little whimsical about it. But my wife said something to the effect of, "You know, people are going to take that word "spirit" and run with it in a way that has nothing to do with the book." And she was right, so I added the subtitle, "Meditations on Spiritual Discernment". So I'm not addressing a situation where you are speaking to an unseen entity and saying, "Oh Spirit-- who do you say Jesus is?" Nor do I think that is what John was talking about. In fact, that's the kind of situation the Bible is dead set against. You know, seances and such.
Q: But young people do have curiosity that goes in that direction.
DT: Yes, unfortunately. But I hope in the case of this book's title and cover, they'll be intrigued enough to look into what it's really about.
Q: Which is? I mean in terms of spirits?
DT: Spirits in terms of ideas that influence what people say and do. I could have just said "ideas", but ideas take on a life of their own. That's what I wanted to get into, whether we can say there is an actual spiritual entity behind any given idea or not. All the same, I do believe there are spirits at work in the world, and while it's not a matter of trying to confront such spirits directly, we can confront any given message. And we do have a sword for that, like Alexander's. The sword of the Spirit. The Bible. And the cutting edge of that sword is the question, "Who do you say Jesus is?" It creates a dividing line right into the soul of every person.
Q: Do you have a favorite chapter?
DT: Yes-- the chapter on the Childlike Spirit. I could have gone on much longer than I did on that one. I associate it with an artistic sensibility, and so it's near and dear to my heart, since I think I can say I'm an artist of some sort. And that's the spirit in which I've written the book. After all, what could be more childlike than my thinking I have anything significant to say on the subject of love that hasn't been expressed before-- for example. And yet I write things about love that I haven't heard expressed before, anyway. Things I find quite helpful.
Q: That does sound quite childlike, if not downright brazen. [They have a good chuckle over this.] It sounds like you are quite confident your book is a highly significant contribution. Did you ever have any doubts while writing it?
DT: Of course I did. All the time. I've always been aware that in the ocean of Christian books out there, to say nothing of the millions of other books, my book is a tiny drop. A nothing. When I look at it from an outside viewpoint, I can easily think of it as absolute rubbish. I mean that-- like when I'm away from it for a time. But when I step into the world inside its covers, I find it an absolutely wonderful place to be. When I received the very first copy of it in the mail, I had just gotten back from a four-day family vacation in the mountains. I had to work the next day, and let's just say I could have used another four days off at least. I wasn't chomping at the bit to get back at my job. Just before I went to bed, I read a couple chapters of my newly arrived book, and I felt encouraged and inspired by what it has to say. So I see that as justification for the existence of the book. There must be at least a small handful of others who would find it edifying too.
