From time to time, James L. Mayfield has used the Apostles' Creed as a catalyst for his personal meditation. The heart of his spiritual exercise was to respond in writing to what he was discovering about the gospel, life in general, and his life in particular through his meditation on this ancient creed. As he wrote, he found himself using language more like a poet than an academic theologian or historian. The result is a very personal sharing of portions of his faith journey. James L. Mayfield is a retired United Methodist pastor. He is the author of Amazing Grace in the Midst of Grief and The Sermon on the Mount: A Personal Encounter with the Wisdom of Jesus. He was given the Hope Award by the Austin Area Interreligous Ministries for his work among various faith communities following the events of the September 11 attacks. He was also honored by the Texas State Senate in 2006.