Justifiable Emotions

Hello on the last day of September, A trip to the Lehigh Valley this past Sunday revealed that fall is truly upon us. While there are a few weeks before I think we will hit peak color, the reds or maroons are prominent at the moment, there was no doubt we are beyond the variousContinue reading “Justifiable Emotions”

Finding Joy Despite Impermanence

Good morning on a Monday morning, Today is a typical autumn day, as it was chilly (even more so in a harbinger manner), but the afternoon should be delightful. The humidity of the weekend is gone, and the breeze, while a bit uncomfortable now will be appreciated before the day ends. There is a bitContinue reading “Finding Joy Despite Impermanence”

A Redux of When does Autumn Arrive?

Hello on a Sunday Evening, It was a good weekend overall, and it seems like the weeks move more quickly, and indeed, we are into the last full week of summer. I attended a soccer game, went to church, and earlier today went with Brad to see the movie, Tony, about Anthony Bourdain at theContinue reading “A Redux of When does Autumn Arrive?”

The Ultimate University

Hello on the final holiday weekend of the summer, As I attended worship this morning, I was blessed to sit with two people who’ve become dear friends to me. While one is my former landlord after I sold the Acre, what I have learned is how incredibly astute he is as a land person, andContinue reading “The Ultimate University”

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”

The Dangers of Faithfulness

Hello from Pennsylvania, and the hope that spring will still arrive, I, as former pastor, a life-long Lutheran, somewhat a Bonhoeffer scholar, and a person who believes deeply in the power of the sacraments, placing the word dangers and faithfulness as something consequential of the other might seem confusing. And yet let me begin here:Continue reading “The Dangers of Faithfulness”

Grief is the Proof Love Exists

Hello on the Month that we celebrate love, Valentines Day is certainly a mixed bag, albeit something we spend billions of dollars on each year (this year the prediction is 29.1 billion or just shy of 200.00 per person – I did multiple searches including AI). And recently titles like SAD (Singles Awareness Day, whichContinue reading “Grief is the Proof Love Exists”

What Might Have Been

Hello from my small, but comfortable space at the Magee. As I ponder the avenues that are in front of me, and as some of you know, the first 18 months of retirement have been a rollercoaster, I find myself also looking at the paths I have traveled, the choices made, and the consequences ofContinue reading “What Might Have Been”

Learning Albeit Slowly

Hello from my little corner, The mornings and days have begun to find some consistency, some beginning sense of process, and for me that is important. The past week, however, seems to still to be a roller coaster of sorts. From learning of some significant health issues to the typical dramatic flair that too oftenContinue reading “Learning Albeit Slowly”