Some time ago, I was reading a book investigating the religious heritage of Shakespeare. (I know, I’m a little weird and just a bit of a nerd.) Anyway, there was a quote that arrested my attention even though it had little to do with Shakespeare. Here’s the quote:
“[In] one of Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries, . . . the key to solving a case was the fact that when a man was murdered, a certain dog didn’t bark! Some called it the presence of an absence!“
“The Presence of an Absence”
Eventually, I wrote an article using that metaphor as a diagnostic tool for examining problems in the American church. I titled the article, “12 Absences that Prove the Descent of the American Church.” At the time, the list of 12 things almost wrote itself; it was so obvious to me. My next thought was, “Somebody should do the work and write a book about these things.” But not me.
I have other “fish to fry.” I have other writing projects I want to complete before my time runs out.
But after a decade, the article keeps haunting me. So beginning this Friday, I am going to write 500 words on each of the 12 absences that I see in the American Church. Pray for me. And make sure to return on Friday to engage with this new series.
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