Finding The Way

Conceptual lettering for The Way, connecting shapes to form a path-like result

The Hippie Bible

If you were a church kid in the 1970s, you probably saw The Way. My mom had a copy. It was called “the hippie bible,” or The Living Bible translation. Scholars like Michael Marlowe have found issue with it, and those criticisms are worth understanding. Still, it reached millions with its casual paraphrasing. Section introductions used culturally relevant photos and copy, speaking to young adults of the late 60s and early 70s. It helped people talk about the biblical story. I always loved the cover’s lettering (below), and doodled a new type treatment last weekend (above), for fun.

After rediscovering The Way during a trip to Hawaii, I bought a used copy for my library (above).

Hawaii 2021

I found a copy of The Way at Kona Beach Hostel last November. Barely awake at 5am, I tucked the book under my arm, shuffled to the veranda (below) and read a few chapters in Matthew. There was a sweet contentment in that moment. At sunrise, I drove to Kona in a borrowed Fiat to find a legitimate cup of Kona coffee. The discovery of that bible stayed with me that day, and in the weeks that followed.

Roots & Focus

Despite its scholarly imperfections, finding a copy of The Way helped me reflect on my roots. I continued to assess: failures, successes, and how loss and letting go allow hope for the future. One big result: a desire for creative work that’s focused on my faith. Being a Jesus follower these days—especially one with zero political agenda—is no picnic. But I’ve been thinking and praying about how to share that faith using my creative experience.

Goodbye to Six Hats

Beyond the hope of focusing on faith, our studio operation needs a change. Menges Design can’t operate the same as it has since opening in 2015. I have to say goodbye to wearing six hats and running at a short project pace, month after month. I’m looking for longer engagements with better returns. Exactly what that looks like, I don’t know yet. But for now, I’m here, a maker asking the Maker: Where go? What do?