My Story

Growing up on 4 acres and spending long summers in the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley, I have always felt the Divine Mystery in the wildness of nature, the power and beauty and sheer uncontrollability of it. There's a reason everyone goes to the mountains or the ocean--God, Divine, Universe, Spirit, Oneness is so clearly present.

In seminary I was confused about why we didn't explore the obvious Divine Presence in the natural world. Particularly when fewer people are connecting to traditional church, I believe the earth is calling us all home, back to a bigger faith in a wilder God.

An avid fisherman, I see God in the grand ecology of the watersheds, the schools of fish, the mystery of what lies beneath the water. Nature--God's holy amphitheater--is trying to teach us, heal us, restore us.

As an Episcopal priest I founded Water and Wilderness Church, a fully outdoor church and watershed community for anyone anywhere who finds God in the natural world. I specialize in connecting faith and nature in the real world through retreats, workshops, speaking engagements, a Substack blog, and a vibrant social media presence.

My forthcoming book, Catching Hope: The Hidden Spiritual Wisdom of Fishing (Broadleaf Books), will be published in May, 2026.