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”

“. . . life to the lees . . . “

Good morning from the darkness of my little corner, I am always amazed by talented people, those who are artistic (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpting, for instance) as I am not particularly talented. I think of a former student who is now an art teacher, and a recent post illustrated (pun intended) how both of herContinue reading ““. . . life to the lees . . . “”

Remembering . . .

Hello from the little borough of Lewisburg, The morning is bright with a brilliant sun, and yet a hint of autumn as there is a morning fog across the fields in the valleys her in Central Pennsylvania. The corn has tasseled, and, yet, in spite of some pretty dry recent weather, things are still quiteContinue reading “Remembering . . .”

Is it Choice or Something Other?

Hello from the Eastern Shore, The next month or two seems likely to be a bit hectic, but I am working diligently to get the ducks-in-a-row. I am still trying to catch some of them, but that will happen. Last evening I had dinner with a friend and we had the most wonderful chat aboutContinue reading “Is it Choice or Something Other?”

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”

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”

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”

Not Merely Called, but Being Called For and To

Hello on a the last few days of May, The last day of May is a significant day in my lifetime. It is the day I graduated from high school as well as the day I was confirmed by the Rev. T. P. Solem, the interim pastor we had between the pastor I remember asContinue reading “Not Merely Called, but Being Called For and To”

Understanding How and Why

Hello on a day of taxes, unexpected events and unsure of what next. The afternoon will be taxes. it’s been a morning of meeting a large truck with the back of the Beetle, no real damage to the truck, and something quite different for the bug. Dinner tonight with a former colleague and feeling likeContinue reading “Understanding How and Why”

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”