Welcome to The Musings of Ordinary Life

An Introduction to our shared journey

Welcome and thank you for subscribing to this Substack.

You are receiving this first issue right before we depart for a trip to England. My primary purpose in going is to spend days exploring the magnificent cathedral in Lincoln - more about that in the next post. (I will also be sharing photos.)

This first issue carries some introductory matters.

I have been offering spiritual/religious teachings in Ordinary Life for twenty-seven years. Both our world and I have evolved over that time. Many things have happened to affect the landscape of our lives - personally, religiously, nationally, and globally. Though I want to remain rooted in the rich wisdom and tradition of the path that has brought me to this present time, I am more and more seeing that the search for a meaningful spiritual path must transcend traditional religious boundaries.

Hard data reflects that there are millions of people around the world who may be attracted to the vision and practice of a teacher like Jesus but who are disenchanted with the way that Christian churches conduct themselves. Christianity stands little hope of being a force for peace and reconciliation unless it abandons its own divisive ways.

Though at its heart Ordinary Life reflects the mission of St. Paul’s UMC - to inspire faith, nurture community, and lead to changes for the common good - one of the unabashed hopes behind this Substack is growing the audience for the message of Ordinary Life. So, please, pass these musings on.

At the end of this post you’ll find an updated, and open to modification, identity and mission statement about Ordinary Life.

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In this introductory e-mail my intent is to say what I hope these writings will be about.

My teaching is quite personal. Consequently you’ll see the word “I” a lot. I don’t mean to be self-centered but I do mean to be centered in the Self. I believe it is our purpose in life, once we have met the survival needs is to be involved in the process of growing as centers of freedom and love. We will not love others more than we learn to love and care for ourselves.

During the time I am taking a break from teaching several people are working behind the scenes with the goal of bringing a totally “new look” to the way Ordinary Life. We intend to debut these changes on or before September 7.

“The Wayless Way” will continue to be the theme for the foreseeable future. That phrase comes from the German mystic Meister Eckhart and captures the non-dual approach I believe we must take in transcending the current religious landscape. Notice, please, that I am using the word “transcend.” We will proceed along the way transcending and including. It took everything to get us where we are.

The painting you see on this posting and all going forward was done by artist and dear friend, Terry Thompson and he has granted us permission to use it. In the photo of me you see the statue Christo de la Concordia which is located in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is a metaphor for how I believe we are to reflect the teachings of values of Jesus in the world as we live our “ordinary lives.”

After we return from England my intention is to post here musings and reflections of what I’m going to call “the backstory” to the teachings offered in Ordinary Life. This will be the place where I can respond to questions, amplify and supplement the teachings that are offered in Ordinary Life. You will be able to respond by making comments and/or asking questions. And, as I have already expressed the hope: to spread the word about Ordinary Life.

Though I will be writing here on a regular basis, I will not return to teaching Ordinary Life until September 7. In the meantime we have a wonderful roster of outstanding teachers lined up for the weeks ahead. You can find out more on the Ordinary Life website.

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Finally, as promised, here is an identity statement about Ordinary Life:

Ordinary Life is a fresh, inclusive, and engaging educational experience for people seeking a meaningful spiritual path outside traditional religious boundaries. Rooted in the rich wisdom of the past and open to the cutting-edge insights of contemporary thought, we explore credible, transformative approaches to religion and spirituality.

We are a community for those who may not feel at home in conventional church settings—yet long for depth, connection, and purpose. Here, we create a crucible for personal growth, where individuals deepen their self-awareness, build authentic relationships, and grow in spiritual intelligence.

Grounded in global consciousness and local action, Ordinary Life empowers participants to live with compassion, act with wisdom, and contribute to the survival of the planet. We embrace mysticism, challenge outdated paradigms, and seek to leave each gathering with hope, comfort, and the clarity that we can make a difference in the world.

Ordinary Life is an educational offering of St. Paul’s UMC in Houston, Texas. As such we aim to reflect the mission of St. Paul’s—a cathedral for Houston’s diversity—to inspire faith, nurture community, and lead change for the common good.

Thank you to subscribing to this Substack. I am looking forward to this shared journey.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley