There are experiences in life so profound that they transform us, though we may not fully grasp their impact until someone says something, we hear a song, or we see a movie that opens our eyes to the changes we need to make. For me, that moment came through a song—“The Fine Line” by Wayne Watson. This song set me on a pilgrimage of discovery that has lasted for 36 years.

My story begins with a pivotal loss. My father, who served as a pastor in the Free Will Baptist denomination, passed away when I was just 14. At 15, I became the pastor of that same small church, and by 16, I was ordained into ministry. Despite my youth, I embraced the responsibilities of the role, and after high school, I attended what is now Welch College. It was there that I met a wonderful woman who became my wife when I was 19. Life seemed to be on a steady path, but by 1988, after 19 years of marriage, we divorced. That period was one of the lowest points in my life.

For months, I struggled to find my footing. Then, one day, I visited a Christian bookstore with a friend. Browsing the music section, a cassette tape titled Fine Line caught my eye. Intrigued, I decided to listen to it there in the store. The opening lines of the title track struck a chord deep within me:

There’s a fine line Between contentment and greed

Between the things that I want And the things that I need

As the words resonated in my heart, I began to feel a stirring—a nudge I couldn’t ignore. Could it be that God was speaking to me through this song? I’d always been taught that God’s voice came only through the written Word, the Bible. Yet, this moment suggested something different. This song planted a seed in my mind, and over time, that seed grew into a quest for understanding.

Change didn’t happen overnight. The journey was gradual, but it led me to embrace new ways of thinking. By 1999, I made a significant decision to change denominations, joining the United Methodist Church. This denomination’s perspective was a revelation to me. While it holds that the Bible is the primary source of truth, it also recognizes the importance of tradition, reason, and experience in discovering God’s truth. This holistic approach to faith guided me to new horizons, including seminary.

In seminary, my pilgrimage took another step forward. During an ethics class, I was assigned a movie that profoundly shifted my understanding of God’s presence and voice in the world. This experience reinforced the idea that God’s Spirit moves through various mediums: the words of others, films, music—not just Christian music—art, athletics, work, and the vastness of the universe itself.

Today, I see myself as a curious pilgrim, constantly learning and growing. My journey has transformed my understanding of humanity’s relationship with God. I no longer view people as inherently born sinners, as many Christian traditions teach. Instead, I see us as immature creations, continually being shaped and formed. Life is a process of creation, a journey of lifelong learning. The Spirit of God speaks to us in countless ways, inviting us to grow through every experience and interaction.

This pilgrimage of discovery has taught me that divine truth is not confined to a single source. It is woven into the fabric of life, present in the mundane and the extraordinary. Through openness, curiosity, and a willingness to listen, we can hear the voice of God calling us to become the people we are meant to be.