Claiming and Bonding: The Story of Mama Bear, Grandma Bear, and Pastor Bear

Medals  As the Olympics wind down in Japan, I cannot help but be reminded as I am every four years of how much talent is exuded in the hundreds of Olympians participating from around the world. The Olympics are always a marvelous universal panorama of color, flags, tattoos, and this year, hair styles. The bane… Continue reading Medals, Masks, and Memes →

As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, I have asked two Dads to share their reflections on being a Dad. Dad #1 is the father of the Dad #2 reflection. Both reflections are stellar. Their words fill me with hope, add joy to my life, and make me laugh. Please enjoy. May each of us remember our… Continue reading Father’s Day, 2021 →

From dandelion bouquets to gift certificates to Target and Bed Bath and Beyond, Mother’s Day is a semi-national holiday embraced by schools, churches, Hallmark, florists, and restaurants. Ever try getting a reservation for brunch on Mother’s Day? We ditched that idea several years ago. Of course, for Moms every day is Mother’s Day. Every day… Continue reading Mother’s Day, 2021 →

From most mainline Christian Church pulpits, the message since March 2020 is that it has been an extended, prolonged Lent due to the pandemic. This Good Friday 2021, as we move towards the Feast of the Resurrection, I move more slowly, with less hope. There is such a multitude gathered at Calvary: • The migrants,… Continue reading 2021 From Calvary to Easter, a Long, Uncertain Walk →

We are two months into President Biden’s administration. For me personally, I think the tenor of life in America has improved. A long way to go but moving forward. That’s the good news. The reality news is that we are still a very divided country and for many of us a very divided faith community.… Continue reading Creating a Patchwork Quilt of Life →

Beginning Anew with an Elder Statesman As we calendar-ly moved into the New Year, I had postponed writing a blog. I had wanted to wait until January 20. Like many Americans, I looked forward to a new beginning. I had been worried about President Joe Biden being harmed during the Inauguration. Never suspecting that our entire… Continue reading A New Beginning →

The outlandish consumerism of Christmas the holiday, overwhelms me. I don’t know how to be a part of that.      The quiet of Advent wraps round me protecting me from that chaos. The Advent litany of saints is like a board game leading me to the manger at Bethlehem.   The shorter days are not my favorite… Continue reading Advent Season 2020 →

Back in the late 60s, early 70s in the pre-tech world there was a contraption known as the 8-track tape player. I never figured out how it worked but my Dad had one in his car and as I recall he had one tape, the Dean Martin tape. So, if Dad was giving you a… Continue reading Memories are Made of This →

“You want to be where you are Loved.”  Simone, age 6 ½ For those of you who have had the experience of chauffeuring your own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or neighbor kids sine cell phones or iPad you know that the time huddled in the automobile can be an incubation of ideas, plot lines, humor,… Continue reading We Want to Be Where We are Loved →