Author: Will Schmit

Have you ever been the weirdo at church? Worn the wrong clothes to church, clapped at the wrong beat in worship, or God forbid, had a different political slant than the lead pastor? Fitting in

Blackbirds leave the wire like so many needles abandoning the seam. We’re undone under sniper laden skies, a broken tale of light lacking direction. Race baiting has us hooked, lines sinking in our faces, the

A young man in my neighborhood is facing twenty five years in prison. His parents asked me to counsel him. I doubt it’s his first offense, you don’t get that kind of time for speeding

Where I went to hear from God was not necessarily nearer, the dark wood, just a spoon stained from stirring coffee, the stars pulsing as I adjusted my eyes. Where I went to hear from

Everything I know about declarations comes from Aunt Bea of The Andy Griffith Show. In short I considered, “I do declare,” as a quaint manner of speaking used in the rural South. Steve Backlund’s ministry

This perfecting night the stars fit between each branch of the fruiting plum. The yard, mowed or un-mowed, greenly slopes toward the ocean below the moon. The wet sodden air seeks our skin like water

When I preach at Pelican Bay State Prison I have a forty minute window to offer a peek into eternity. The combination of the inmates’ low expectation, and short attention span, often requires a quick

Thrill my eyes with mud fresh path, tree fallen, daffodil known to slug banana and branch light golden. Spear my ears with surf pound, new creek gargle and cormorant squawk. Let my feet find mint

Impatient for vistas and blooms, we direct ant prayers to a trail of crumbs, and miss the peace of cake walking. ‘Lean not’ is hiking code for stand under the water fall and cast your

For the last few years I’ve been working nights in a local family run grocery store. Some of the regular customers have become as familiar to me by their food choices as by their faces.