Episode Two of the Circus

Hello on a Monday afternoon, The week has begun with a plan and some degree of anticipation since I was scheduled for my first of two cataract surgeries this morning. I’ve know for a few years this was on the horizon, but I met that distant boundary was met last September. Unfortunately, the primary providerContinue reading “Episode Two of the Circus”

My _Family Circus_ Life

Hello on a humid August afternoon, I am regularly told I’ve led an extraordinary life, from students asking where I am jet-setting off next to regular reactions of surprise or disbelief because of the various experiences I reflect upon as a matter of course; it’s just how my life has unfolded. Certainly, from the outsetContinue reading “My _Family Circus_ Life”

Begin with One True Sentence

Hello as I wait for my seating, It’s a Monday midsummer, and it’s a warm one. It reminds me of summer days when as a child I would lay on the bed in the front screened-in porch of my parent’s house and read a book. I was fortunate that the neighborhood Public Library was onlyContinue reading “Begin with One True Sentence”

What’s the Difference between Bravery and Courage?

Hello on a post 4th weekend, the semiquincentennial 4th, To say there had been a lot of energy and importance, excitement and pomp placed on this 4th would be a gargantuan understatement, but indeed though only 250 years, which is an incredibly short period of time in the history of human annals, it’s been anContinue reading “What’s the Difference between Bravery and Courage?”

Che Guevara and Luigi Mangione

Good morning from the coffee klatch, While driving to get blood work done this morning, I was listening to NPR, and the story airing was about Luigi Mangioni, the young man charged with the killing of Brian Young, the late CEO of United Healthcare. What an interesting story about the national response to this youngContinue reading “Che Guevara and Luigi Mangione”

“The Road Not Taken”

Hello on the first of June, As noted by my father regularly, time will begin to seemingly pass by more rapidly. Of the many wise things, truthful things he said, this one might be the more accurate. At least, that seems to be the case as I consider how we got to the first ofContinue reading ““The Road Not Taken””

To Lament or To Learn

Hello from the micro-acre, The summer I did my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at St. Luke’s in my hometown of Sioux City, there was a lot on my plate. I had been diagnosed with what then was determined to be Ulcerative Colitis, I was on leave from the seminary, was planning a wedding at theContinue reading “To Lament or To Learn”

Making this Place Home

Hello from Bloomsburg, What makes some place home? There is certainly the physical attributes. There are the things, the events, the moments that become habitual. There are the people, and the weeks that become months, seasons, and eventually years. While I have always been amazed by what I refer to as the duality of time,Continue reading “Making this Place Home”

Using Power for Others

Hello from my small corner, It’s turned colder again. After a beginning of a week that allowed for walking in merely a t-shirt or a long sleeve, yesterday I had my winter coat on, and this morning the little abode is chilly (or beyond) as the wind works its way through the windows typical ofContinue reading “Using Power for Others”

It Needs Harmony

Hello from a Sunday of uncertain weather, It’s been an interesting winter of weather here in North Central Pennsylvania. Earlier in January, we received the most snow in a storm that I’ve experienced in 16 years. Additionally, we also experienced an 18 day period where the temperature did not get above freezing. That is atypicalContinue reading “It Needs Harmony”