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?”

No Useless Friends nor Harmless Enemies

Hello from the first part of June, and it is warm; We are so affected by weather. It influences not only our decisions and actions, but also our moods, our outlooks, and perhaps as importantly as anything, even how we react or respond to those around us. Most of my life I have lived whereContinue reading “No Useless Friends nor Harmless Enemies”

Why Respect Matters

Hello from the diner, When I come to the diner today, I remember how this family establishment has become part of the collective memory of my time in Bloomsburg. There was a period where I was here most every morning and names like Dave, Doug, or Father Fennessy, seated at the left counter as youContinue reading “Why Respect Matters”

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”

Silence: Wisdom’s Best Reply

Hello at the end of an great weekend, This past week a close friend asked me about how I seem to know how to respond to what someone says or just how to reply in a given situation. Let me preface my response with an honest disclaimer. I certainly have been know to put bothContinue reading “Silence: Wisdom’s Best Reply”

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”

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”

Teleological Transactionalism and Christian Conservatism

Hello from my little corner of the world. While a part of me loves the political of the world, another part is continually surprised (to some extent) and dismayed at how the human lust for power and the seemingly insatiable need for resources (e.g. greed) seems to determine what we do, be it individually orContinue reading “Teleological Transactionalism and Christian Conservatism”

Tradition and Transformation: Fasnacht and Carnival

Hello on a Friday the 13th, There is so much happening in our world presently it is difficult to find a moment to breathe, or at least that is how it seems. Is my looking at all of this my version of doomscrolling or is it something more? I would like to believe that IContinue reading “Tradition and Transformation: Fasnacht and Carnival”