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”

Chevelles, Harleys, and Bugs

Hello from the outside table at the local Starbucks, It’s a great morning, starting out cool and pleasant, though now the humidity and heat are both on the rise, so it’s a typical June, nearly summer, day in Pennsylvania (btw, do you know that this is the only state where both the abbreviation of PAContinue reading “Chevelles, Harleys, and Bugs”

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”

Where Do We Find You?

Hello from Bloomsburg, It’s Friday, and it’s been a week of extremes when it comes to what I was planning for and what I was not. It began with the Memorial Day, and I was fortunate to attend the commemoration of veterans at one of the most well-kept of area cemeteries. The event was nicelyContinue reading “Where Do We Find You?”

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”

Taking Cover, but Never Ducking

Hello from the still transforming space, As of late I have ponder those things in life that give me some sense of pride, not in an arrogant manner, more perhaps more in a resilient way. As I have found myself on the other side of a daily requirement of working in some “you are requiredContinue reading “Taking Cover, but Never Ducking”

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”

Sechs Schock und zehn

Hello from my abode, Today would be the birthday of my adopted father’s eldest brother-in-law, Mr. Clare White Swaby. He was born in 1896, and he was the proverbial Sunday dinner guest when I grew up. He was, by any measure or thought, a character. He dropped out of elementary school in 5th grade, butContinue reading “Sechs Schock und zehn”