Last night I sat in my recliner and watched as the full Beaver Moon came up and rose into the night sky. It was a supermoon! Yes, it was! So pretty. So clear. So majestic. I hope you had the chance to see it. I saw it because the leaves are now gone on the … Continue reading The New Nest
Child’s Play
Child’s Play. It usually connotes something that is simple and free. It has the sense of being easy and spontaneous. Children don’t really have to be taught how to play—play is what they do best. So I’m back from camping up at Indian Boundary Campground in the Cherokee National Forest with some friends. We had … Continue reading Child’s Play
My Thumb
My favorite image for the church is the Body of Christ. Paul’s desciption of the Body and its interrelated parts is found in I Corinthians 12. It is an extended metaphor of connections working together in order for the body to function. My senior project as an undergradate was an extensive look at the Body … Continue reading My Thumb
My Lay Cistercian Commitment
My status has changed. I am now a Committed Lay Cistercian of Gethsemani. Of course, there has been reason to think I should have been committed before now (pun, groan, please keep reading.). I am perhaps eccentric in some ways, but I feel centered and on the mark with this move. During Vespers on Saturday, … Continue reading My Lay Cistercian Commitment
What Is a Lay Cistercian of Gethsemani?
I’m becoming a Lay Cistercian of Gethsemani (LCG). This time next week I’ll be on my way to the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. It is a Trappist monastery that was founded in 1848. I’ve been going there on retreats since 1991. I’m now making a commitment to a new level of … Continue reading What Is a Lay Cistercian of Gethsemani?
Merton My Mentor
I have told lots of young people that one of the most important developmental tasks of young adulthood is choosing a mentor. We envision ourselves as an adult in the world doing something we consider important and enjoyable, and we look to someone probably already in the field that is doing just that. One of … Continue reading Merton My Mentor
Daddy-Daughter Camp #11
Maggie and I are back from camp. We were up in Elkmont for a couple of days. We ended up in Campsite J14 again—this was our third stay at J14. We had a good camp, even though I was somewhat ‘off my game’ in terms of prep and execution. We celebrated the Autumnal Equinox so … Continue reading Daddy-Daughter Camp #11
The ‘Ber Months
I have to admit that August 31 is one of my favorite dates on the calendar. Not because of any special occasions; no birthdays, anniversaries, or memorable events are marked on that day for me. So what makes it so good? It means that the next day, September 1, will mean that we are finally … Continue reading The ‘Ber Months
Back in the Saddle
So it had been a minute, as they say. Actually it had been more like 50 years. I decided to go bike Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. Good news is that I made it. Less good news it was not without incident. But let’s back up to start. My story with bicycles is … Continue reading Back in the Saddle
Les the Last
So they are preparing to take Julie back to her house for hospice care. They’re setting up the equipment this afternoon. This evening she’ll be back in familiar surroundings. She will go to the house and then at some point in the near future she will go home. The decision was made yesterday. The chemo … Continue reading Les the Last
Character in the Making 