The Clearing

Hello! I'm Stephen Ertel and this is a glimpse of my story.

 

My life is easy and predictable, everything goes how I plan, I've never messed anything up, and I have a dozen certificates that make me a qualified life expert!

Yeah. Right.

Really, I'm a delightfully imperfect human being, with broad life experience and a tendency to find deep meaning and truth in the small things. I believe God is active in life, that He always has something to teach, and that He wants me to walk with and encourage people with everything He's given me.

My marriage with Brittany hasn't always been easy, and that's taught me how to listen, understand, and persist for almost 15 years.

My sons Carson and Gavin love to wrestle and are exuberant, independent, and tender-hearted. They've taught me patience, gentleness, and that there's power in just being there sometimes.

I mentor at-risk kids in Spokane's toughest schools and neighborhoods, and I walk away feeling like I've gained more wisdom than I had to offer.

I have a college degree I don't use, I've started and closed businesses, been fired more than once, served in the military, been a stay-at-home dad, and even been unemployed a few times.

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Chances are, we're more alike than different. I don't have a perfect life to post on social media, instead I have purposefully messy, forever unfolding story—one that helps me better understand your journey and walk with you toward the clearing that's just ahead.