Who, Exactly, is Jad Taylor?

Great question! The greatest challenge in writing this page is determining whether or not I should write in the warm, yet intimate, first person or whether Jad should write in the more cold, yet dignified, third person. Of course, you could go wild and dive straight into the second person but you wouldn’t like that, would you? Jad reckons I will just vacillate between the first and third. With that settled, onward and downward!

The best place to begin is probably with a professionally made church portrait of myself with a dachshund. I’m the one in the purple and white shirt. Since I know you’re wondering, the dachshund’s name is Bruce. Jad, as a human being, began roundabouts the year 1986. He began thanks to two loving parents, Jim and Karla Taylor, and quickly met one very large, yet shockingly quick, wiener dog named Taylor Dog (we’re a creative naming bunch). A mere five and a half years later, Jenna showed up as the saintly little sister to round out the crew. Two more dachshunds, Annie and Ginger, came along for the ride at various points. May they all RIP. Also, Bruce was just stolen for this picture. Fear not, he loved the car ride. Side note: Is this already way more dachshund information than you were expecting for this page? Me too!

For this academic year, I am studying abroad at the Wesley House in Cambridge, England. At Wesley House, Jad will complete his second year of seminary and then return to Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta to finish his third and final year. While in Cambridge, I will also be placed with Friends at the local Quaker Meeting on Jesus Lane. You read that right, Jesus stinkin’ Lane. It’s too perfect, I know.

As Jad headed off “across the pond,” as the kids would say, a number of people told Jad,

You should start a blog! If you do, I can be inspired by your lofty prose to aspire to achieve as yet unattained deeply held personal goals.” –Lots of People, Too Many to Count Really

So, here we are! Along the way, I suspect I’ll write about fascinating people I’ve shared encounters with and learned from, gleanings from exploring and meandering, a little bit of theology here and there, some musings on our wild and beautiful world, and dachshunds, definitely dachshunds. If any of this strikes your fancy, I hope you’ll stick around and join the conversation. If not, drop me a line and let me know what you’d like to hear!

No matter what, just remember: you are a beautiful human being made on purpose for a purpose. Much love to you, my friend.