What a wild ride the past few weeks have been. I haven’t written since May 27th, and while I could blame the gap on being busy (who hasn’t been?), the truth is I just haven’t been able to find the words. So much has happened in our country this year that has shaped each of … Continue reading Reaction/Response
Do Unto Others
When Chris Kyle’s daughter Ava received a new kitchen playset, she invited him to come for a meal at her restaurant, Ava’s Kitchen. The dutiful dad agreed and soon after he posted a review of his visit. The Instagram post went viral. So I tried to support another Black Owned Business for lunch today. It’s … Continue reading Do Unto Others
Character Study
On March 12th, just as the coronavirus pandemic began impacting the United States, an all-too-familiar scene played out in Hiram, Georgia. In the wine aisle of the local Sam’s Club, a man in a motorized scooter bumped into the shopping cart holding a child. The parents confronted the man, who tried to back away from … Continue reading Character Study
Clearing the Air
I have a small workshop in the backyard. I learned woodworking from my grandfather and I get a great deal of satisfaction from creating something with my own hands. I spend a lot of time out there and have made several improvements to the shop over the past several months in order to make it … Continue reading Clearing the Air
Words Have Power
Yesterday was my birthday. Like most people do, I received a number of well-wishes in the form of cards, social media greetings, and even gifts. And like most people do, I’ll forget who said what after a few days have passed. Except for one. This year, I received a card that stood out from the … Continue reading Words Have Power
Just Keep Running
On September 21st, nine year old Kade Lovell was entered into the St. Frances Franny Flyer 5k race in Sartell, Minnesota. Kade loves to run and had competed in other races, including cross country since the age of six. This particular 5k was part of his training for the upcoming Junior Olympics in Wisconsin. Things … Continue reading Just Keep Running
When the Going Gets Tough
One Saturday last May, my wife Susan went to a local flea market with a friend. They hadn’t been gone long when I received a phone call. Susan had bought something and needed me to bring the truck in order to get it home. It was an old chest, beaten and neglected for years. My … Continue reading When the Going Gets Tough
Parched (An Allegory)
I’ve got to do some work on my sprinkler system. Out here in West Texas, we don’t get a lot of rain. In fact, it can go months without any precipitation and, with summer temperatures over 100 degrees, the landscape starts to get a bit crispy. Many plants have either evolved or been bred to … Continue reading Parched (An Allegory)
Be Prepared
I hope you had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend; full of either rest or excitement, depending on which of those you were hoping for. I spent mine camping in the Carson National Forest near Tres Ritos, New Mexico. From my campsite in a meadow next to a babbling brook, I had the most incredible view. … Continue reading Be Prepared
Tuned In
In the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, August 11th, someone left an old television set on the front porch of a house in Henrico County, Virginia. In fact, according to Police Lieutenant Matt Pecka, the mystery deliveryman visited 50 different houses that night, leaving TV sets outside the door of each one. Nothing … Continue reading Tuned In
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