Sorry, Bob. I disagree. First of all, let me say that I’m every bit as sad and discouraged as Bob Costas by the Jovan Belcher situation. However, I’m also sad because we’re in a day in which a sportscaster feels he should use his platform to act the part of a cultural expert, giving commentary on one of the deepest moral and social issues of our times. By pinning this tragic shooting on guns, Costas trivialized the Jovan Belcher situation.... Read more
The holiday season seems to bring out the blue in all of us. I see it every year – shortly after Thanksgiving, and through the celebrations of the New Year, people struggle with a heaviness of heart. It’s virtually impossible to determine why. Yet, we try. Is it the solar index? Is it the bad news we’ve heard from doctors, family members, or employers? Or is it a failing relationship or unmet expectations for life? It’s hard to sort out... Read more
I will exercise less this month. I will eat more butter. And I will feel less guilt about spending fewer minutes on the treadmill and more time at the table. These are a few of my resolutions for the month of December, and they’re largely inspired by Bernard Lagat. Lagat is an insanely fast runner. He’s a four-time Olympian. He owns seven American records. And he won the Fifth Avenue Mile last year in a time of 3 minutes, 50.5... Read more
I have strongly mixed feelings about this time of year. The leaves are gone. The orioles and yellow finches that flittered and filled our back yard with song have left. Even the cornstalks that hemmed us in on four sides have been picked, chopped, and tilled under. The Briar Patch feels exposed, as the season of life has been replaced with a period of dormancy. And yet… there are fires in the fireplace. Hot drinks taste better during these days.... Read more
“When I See The Flag” Written by my daughter, Kate, when she was 10 (she’s now 11) When I see the American flag I think of the thousands of men and women who courageously sacrificed their comfort, and sometimes their lives, for the welfare of their country and the people who dwell in it. Particularly, I think of my dad’s best friend, Mr. Jeff. He had served the United States diligently in Iraq for twenty-one months, but his deployment... Read more
“The music, while it lasted, brought a new world into being.” – Wendell Berry in Jayber Crow My seven-year old daughter, Claire, is always squirmy. Except when she’s on my lap at a concert listening to Sara Groves sing Fireflies and Songs. In that moment, and that moment alone, she’s entranced and deeply contented in a way that reveals itself in a few motionless moments. As the song began, she leaned over and whispered into my ear, “Dad, I know this... Read more
I have two reflections on 2012 election season as I’m pacing back and forth like a caged panther waiting for results to come in: Musing #1: Far too much money was spent campaigning by both parties. There must be at least 1.7 billion ways to better spend $1.7 billion dollars. Think of how helpful those dollars would have been to Sandy’s victims, or to those researching pediatric brain cancer, or to organizations such as International Justice Mission or Compassion International.... Read more
Today is Orphan Sunday! Please join me in praying for children around the world who are in need. We call them the “fatherless” or the “orphan”…but this ALSO includes nearly a half million children who are in the United States foster care system. According to HHS, “On September 30, 2010, there were an estimated 408,425 children in foster care.” To donate or get involved, please check out the Christian Alliance For Orphans website. They have a resource page of trusted... Read more
I love ironies. Here’s one (two, as you’ll see) that I found on Huffington Post’s website that was gifted to us by Marilyn Sewell: “Conservative evangelical Christians are sure that they are right about so much, but from my vantage point, much of what they believe is unloving and in fact destructive.” Do you, Ms. Sewell, believe that you are right about this statement you made? If so, then we agree (in practice, at least) on one thing: people contend... Read more
The air almost smells different. It’s the beginning of the rut, a frenzied time of year. They become vulnerable. They run around with their tongues hanging out, making erratic, impulsive decisions that could shorten their lives…or, if they’re lucky, help them score. They become strange, unpredictable creatures – sometimes you see them, sometimes you don’t. They change from moment to moment. They get tunnel vision—life becomes about one thing. They eat and sleep just enough to supply them with energy... Read more
Cedars and Sandhills
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