Post 11: Serial or Stand-Alone?
I Could Do This All Day
Post 11: Serial or Stand-Alone?
I Could Do this All Day
Back to our regularly scheduled programming (hope you join us for Nicea 2025)…
I’ve recently been re-watching the earlier MCU films, especially the Captain America ones. I miss the Infinity War Saga – the storytelling then felt crisp and sharp (to me – YMMV). I’ve been reflecting on the storytelling arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—especially the way its early phases built toward Infinity War and Endgame. The serialized nature of those films, like classic comic books, offers both strengths and challenges.
I’ve worked to make each post of this Substack stand on its own. To represent a complete thought and be engaging on its own terms. But it is also true that I’m curating a bit of an ecosystem. That the journey is deeper if each post is considered in light of the others. This Substack is part of a larger body of work that includes a book, a podcast in development, and a growing community of educators and learners exploring formation in the age of AI.
I’m creating this ‘Start Here’ post to try to split the difference. To have my cake and eat it too. Mmmm. Cake.
This Substack is about formation of engineers (and all people really). My writing is meant to have a gentle on-ramp for the non-technical folks out there too. At its heart, I write about the need for a t-shaped way of looking at the world. Technical competence, relational connection, all with Christ-centered purpose. As I said to one of my colleagues (you can read about that interaction in Post 2), the cross shape kind of gives it away.
I believe that the common definition of engineering – solving problems with math and science – is incomplete unless considered through the lens of the Great Commandment: to Love God, and Love people.
So, if you are encountering this Substack for the first time, you really can jump in anywhere. But, I might gently recommend that you start with Post 1 and learn a bit about what makes Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne so important to me. While you won’t feel nearly as lost as I imagine someone might if they encountered Infinity War as their first Marvel movie, it’s likely that you’ll enjoy the experience in a fuller way if you begin at the beginning.
Whether you’re an engineer, educator, student, or simply someone curious about story and formation, I’m glad you’re here. I hope you’ll subscribe, reflect, and maybe even share a post with someone who needs it.
Below, I’ve provided links to all of the posts of this first Season in order – feel free to use this as a guide for collecting little nuggets of wisdom across the expanded universe of this Substack.
Stories from a t-Shaped Engineer: Mike Mulligan
A childhood story becomes a lifelong anchor—engineering, love, and healing through a steam shovel named Mary Anne.The Shape is the Key
How the t-shaped engineer model evolved—and why its cross-like shape carries theological weight.Convicted in Newberg
A keynote on AI shifts everything—formation, not just function, becomes the central concern.Why Are You Here?
A conversation with Josh Brake sparks reflection on purpose, margin, and the deeper reasons we learn.The Tip of the Iceberg
AI is just the surface—beneath it lies the full digital ecosystem shaping our attention and identity.A Bananas Compass for Learning
A whimsical parable about education, discernment, and the choices we make in the age of AI.From the Belcher Center
A live chapel performance of the World’s Greatest Banana Salesman story—faith, formation, and flying fruit.Where Are We?
A narrative pause to reflect on the journey so far and preview what’s ahead.A Missing Piece
Mentorship, meaning, and the moment Ron Welch helped name what was missing in engineering education.Lunch with A Friend
A quiet critique of institutional posture—and a reminder that kindness and joy are signs of hope.
More to Come…
Reflection Question:
Do you see the Bible as a continuous, cohesive narrative? A set of stand-alone stories? (We’ll tackle this a bit in an upcoming post!)