Trying to Make Sense of it All

Hello at the beginning of another week, One of my former students was quite exasperated with me when she lived at my house because I was at some points a real pain, albeit unintentionally. She was the first of a number of students and exchange students who would live with me, and I must giveContinue reading “Trying to Make Sense of it All”

What Constitutes Peaceful?

Hello from Main Street in the only incorporated “town” in Pennsylvania, My head is whirling and my brain seems to be stuck in overdrive. Across the street from my little space I can hear people protesting the events of the last week. I hear cars honking their horns in support. The world seems to beContinue reading “What Constitutes Peaceful?”

Why am I Fascinated?

Hello from Main Street, I am back in the only official town in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the place where I first moved in the late summer of 2009. It is a typical Main Street of small town Americana, and like many small towns, it has experienced the growing pains of a changing culture, theContinue reading “Why am I Fascinated?”

Out of the Depths, O Lord . . .

Hello from my study, There are a multitude of thoughts, emotions, concerns, and fears as I reflect on the pictures of our national Capitol yesterday. I do not mean that to be a political statement, it is a statement of one single individual, a former pastor, a Marine Corps veteran, a person who has RepublicanContinue reading “Out of the Depths, O Lord . . .”

Empathy: A Necessary Component

Hello on the second day of May, There is little doubt that we are in a polarized environment. Daily, and I am guilty of falling into some of this behavior, though I generally try to remain respectful, the lack if willingness to listen to the other, when compassion seems to be merely a pipe dream,Continue reading “Empathy: A Necessary Component”

Why Does Dana Live On?

Hello from my study, It is the end of New Year’s Day and for the first time in 5 years I am not in Europe or Kraków the first day of the year, and more significantly in a half a decade. Of course, as I have noted in other posts, this NW Iowa boy neverContinue reading “Why Does Dana Live On?”