I cannot remember when my passion for living began.  Whether it was producing a neighborhood circus, drawing, dancing, painting, writing stories, catching bugs, jumping, skipping, making up songs, setting up haunted houses (regardless of the season) or simply whirling about, I was there—drinking in all of the dazzling beauty of life.  I was overwhelmed with a sense of wonder and awe.

When I grew up, I became an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America because I wanted to take my passion for life and share it with others in the context of a worshiping community.  As a pastor, I see the enormous burdens people carry, the secret pain they bear, and the stress that keeps them from the joy of the Lord.  Where is their childlike wonder? Has the weight of the world crushed them? What can I do to offer healing?

In 2006, I became involved in the worldwide laughter movement. To my surprise, this practice of Laughter Yoga was a wonderful way to integrate my gifts in the arts with my mission to increase world happiness.  I have embraced laughter as a vehicle for divine healing of mind, body, and spirit. As a result, my art has become more and more playful and exuberant.

It would be difficult to define myself as an artist because my interests, along with my theology, continue to expand.  As a dancer, painter, writer, sculptor, filmmaker, spoken word artist and singer/songwriter—do any of these titles capture the essence of what I am trying to do? Probably not, I guess you could simply call me an artist of joy.

My sincere hope is that you find the joyful spirit within my varied art works and that they inspire you; give you a smile, or perhaps even a big belly laugh.