Terry Storch Dispatch 10.2021

Dispatch 10.2021

I'm just trying to say that it should reassure us that the inevitable traumas of being human do end up producing some good. Otherwise, the human condition is overwhelmingly depressing.  -  Malcolm Gladwell

Welcome to the dispatch, new readers! Recently, YouVersion featured my Scaling Leadership with Biblical Wisdom reading plan, and because of that, many of you subscribed to this dispatch. For my regular readers, you have noticed my writing rhythms have changed after my summer sabbatical. To read more about my sabbatical and time away, you can check out You can also check out my previous writings from this year: , , , , , June, and    

Speaking of Rhythms...

They are a natural part of creation and our human ecosystem. We all have the rhythms of our seasons—spring, summer, autumn/fall, and winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, we are just entering fall, and therefore, my allergies are off the charts and my head is constantly full of junk. Other natural rhythms are our sleep, heartbeat, and breathing patterns, to name a few. It is almost like the Creator of all things thinks and operates with rhythms in mind. Looking at different rhythms in my life, I have noticed reading, writing, and consuming content comes in waves, phases, and “rhythms.”

A shift has occurred in the past few months in my writing rhythms. How I typically used to process through writing now looks more like internal contemplation. The result has been fewer dispatch emails coming to your inbox as many of you have pointed out. I am currently wondering and processing natural rhythms in my life that I tend to “fight” when they might not be worth fighting.

How about you, do you pay attention to the natural ebbs and flows or rhythms in your life? This makes me think of a discussion recently with my wife, Robin. We were studying the book of Job and discussing the concept of growth from loss. This is an interesting rhythm if you think about it: finding growth from a season of loss. How often do we limit ourselves from growing because we are afraid of the loss and pain from changing? Or we’re afraid to process a significant loss in our lives because we just want to “get over it” and not grow through it.

The human ego prefers anything, just about anything, to falling, or changing, or dying. The ego is that part of you that loves the status quo - even when it's not working. It attaches to past and present and fears the future. -  Richard Rohr

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Coldplay launched their highly anticipated new album, Music Of The Spheres, and it’s really good! It’s a new and different sound that I am really enjoying.

I’m so thankful Robin shared this podcast with me. I have been a long time fan of Erwin McManus, going back to 2005 and his book Chasing Daylight. Anyway, Erwin and his son Aaron host a podcast called Battle Ready, and in this episode they discuss and unpack Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, 'The Closer.' A great listen to help us become better and more compassionate humans. Listen now.

A few weeks ago, one of my tennis teams made it to USTA Nationals. This was a pretty cool accomplishment for the team, as there are about 1,700 teams from across the United States battling for 16 spots in the Nationals Tournament. Our team did well, but we came up a little short when it mattered most and ended up 10th overall. I had a fantastic time and a wonderful playoff run. I ended up 11-0 in this league's playoff and played some of my best tennis. I am super thankful for this sport and the joy and fulfillment it brings to my life.

Back in 2003 when I was on staff at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, we played Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees as an opener song. This song is about the difficulty of forging authentic human connections in an artificial and surfacy world. Today, as I watch our society navigate the immense influence of social media, television, and other artificial media, I am reminded of Fake Plastic Trees and the deep desire in us all for real, authentic connection and love as humans created in the image of God.

Radiohead Live at Glastonbury 2003 - watch
Readiohead Early recording 1995 - watch