Some days ago, I was playing with my favorite 2nd Grader in the whole world. At one point she said to me, “Grandpa! Let’s pretend we are on a spaceship and traveling to Planet Christmas; a place where it is Christmas every day.” The conversation was delightful and went further with her descriptions of what such…
I read the award-winning, “Mayflower: Voyage, Community, War” by Nathaniel Philbrick when it was first published in 2006. It was a fascinating read. Among other things, it took me deeper into the reality of our origins than the American myths taught in elementary school; myths about the Pilgrims’ altruistic, inclusive beliefs, the idealized stories of…
In a sermon at the National Cathedral on March 31, 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – referring to the civil rights efforts underway in this country – said, “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” This is an often-quoted, hopeful, faith-filled thought. I like…
Former Vice President Joe Biden often precedes making a point in his campaign remarks with the phrase, “Look, here’s the deal.” At the outset of this post I want to borrow that phrase. Look, here’s the deal: Satan is real. The very real Satan about which I write is NOT some anthropomorphic, red-suited character with horns and a…
Like millions of other kids this fall, our grandchildren – as a result of COVID-19 – are attending school both virtually and in “hybrid” fashion. Our youngest granddaughter is in school by the virtual, on-line method. So, part of the learning curve for us as frequent, caregiver grandparents is to be as familiar as possible…
One of the great gifts to civilization is a codification of ten ancient rules commonly known today as The Ten Commandments. They can be found in the Bible in Exodus 20:2-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:6-17. The Commandments can also be ordered from Walmart for $9.99 – free shipping included – and delivered directly to our respective doors. Sure…
One of the great challenges for me in these past several years – and particularly the last 6 months – has been staying positive, hopeful, and encouraged. The US President’s advisors, early in the President’s term told us, there are “alternative facts.” This phrase is simply nonsense describing a public culture of official lying…about everything….
Our daughter-in-law’s mother, Mary, is a high school Advanced Placement American History teacher. She is also a person with a passionate interest in researching family histories. Mary has been researching ours. Her research has been proving to be an emotional and informative experience for me. Among other things, I have gone “over the river and…
In the late fall of 1967 I was in the process of completing my first year of college. Just before Christmas of that year – along with the rest of the members of the Mount Union College Choir (now The University of Mount Union) – I was a part of a concert tour through the southern…
The Plain Dealer’s front page for this past Sunday, June 21st , carried thisheadline for a story below the fold. “Ohio’s Legislature Has Been Roiledby Differences.” Notice of such division, particularly in a legislativebody, is not news! One could fill in the name of nearly any public orprivate entity and a similar story of progress-halting…