Hey!

I’m Jonas Ellison. And that’s my little girl, Rory, on the right (your right). We’re both a bit older now, but not much else has changed…

I'm a writer and a midlife seminarian preparing for ordained priesthood in the Lutheran (ELCA) church. I’m in the MDiv program at Wartburg Theological Seminary and live in the Sierra Valley of Northern California (thank God for distance learning).

This is my daily personal online community of sorts. I’ve been blogging daily(ish) since 2015 at Higher Thoughts, my Medium publication, which somehow became the #1 most visited single-author publication on Medium.

Today, my publishing schedule is as such… I write daily(ish) here on the Jonasletter. Entries here are usually short. Some are personal updates. Some are quotes from what I’m reading at the time. Some are just quick ideas, thoughts, wonderings, etc.

My best stuff (in my humble opinion, anyway) gets published over on my Medium publication, Higher Thoughts. These are usually behind the paywall at Medium, but if you’re a subscriber here (even a ‘free’ subscriber), I'll email you the magical link that lets you read them - yes - for free.

What’s great about getting on the email list is that you’ll probably like them. You might end up bookmarking certain ones. Maybe you’ll meditate on some and come back to them later.

But what’s REALLY great is that you can reply to the emails. I’ll even read your reply. And if I feel that it’s within reason, I’ll write you back. And we can go back and forth about… Whatever it is that’s on your mind.

Ice-breaking miscellany…

First and foremost I’m a husband to this lady and (as you saw above) a dad.

Strong coffee (with oat milk and sugar, please) throughout the day and a beer (Carlsberg, please - and just one - maybe two) in the evening just about covers my material indulgences.

I’m a social introvert and register as an INFP on the MBTI and a 9w1 on the Enneagram.

I like listening to indie folk, pop grass, and roots-rock music. And Bach. Because I’m Lutheran.

I’m a big fan of fire (as long as it’s controlled). Anywhere from a candle flicker to a raging bonfire will do.

I’m of Danish descent and am a purveyor of all things hygge.

I prefer mountain lakes over ocean beaches.

I live in the Sierra Valley of Northern California.

Okay, now I’ll go a few feet deeper…

To me, being a Christian isn't about being 'right'. It isn't about cussing less and judging others more.

It's about trusting that, as flawed as we all (!) are, we're also insanely and undeservedly loved at the core of our very being by our creator and designer. The gospel of Jesus is the great cosmic leveler. It’s harshly inclusivist. None of us are left out of Christ’s embrace (even those whom we reeeeally wish were).

We don’t have to be ‘right’ in order to be loved by God. Instead, we are loved by God so that we can be made right. Again and again.

This Christian faith liberates me to spend more time doing the things I love and going to more places and spaces that make me feel small and even a bit afraid. It frees me to remember to laugh at myself more and to let others off the hook as much as I need to be let off the hook.

Anyhow, to sign up for free to my inadequate daily (albeit enthusiastic) musings, here’s where you can do just that.

Everything I publish on this newsletter/blog thingy is free. THAT BEING SAID, if you’re eager and able, you can support my work as a writer by paying for a monthly subscription (when you click that button above). You won’t get any exclusive goodies, but I’ll do my best to make sure you get into heaven when you croak (huge bonus) AND you’ll know that I’m eating and paying my bills. Which is nice.

Grace & Godspeed,
Jonas Ellison