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It is a delight to be delighted. When I lace up my shoes and head out of the house for a long walk, I always tune into one of a couple of podcasts. One day earlier this summer I went out for a walk and played the latest podcast episode focused on ha…
Olympic season once again draws us in to the heart-pounding drama of elite athletes competing for victory in events that are decided by millimeters and hundredths of a second. A thirty-year-old swimmer, seven years removed from setting the world reco…
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I’ve never been a big fan of running. Toss in a basketball or a tennis racquet or a good game of elbow tag, and I’m much more interested. But lacing up shoes and setting out to run a set number of miles isn’t particularly appealing to me. To be fair,…
If you haven’t seen “Inside Out” or “Inside Out 2,” I would highly recommend it. I recently asked my mom to go see the second one with me in theaters and it had quite a powerful take on anxiety and how our emotions work in our minds and bodies. Ril…
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Dear Beloved Community of St. Paul Lutheran Church, As I sit down to write this message, my heart is filled with a mixture of gratitude, nostalgia, and anticipation. It’s hard to believe that my time as your resident pastor is coming to an end. This…
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Last Saturday, we went to our local farmer’s markets. My son’s primary goal is to watch dogs. My daughter is always on the lookout for some unique thing to decorate her room. In addition to the veggies I knew I’d find this time of year – I hoped for…
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“I wait for you, O Lord; my soul waits; in your word is my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the morning.” I envy monks and nuns for what seems like their mastery of prayer. I’ve been to a few monasteries for retreat…
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A few weeks ago, I was moving around the kitchen getting a few things ready for dinner, when our 3-year-old, Micah, climbed up on his stool that enables him to reach the kitchen counter. As he stepped up, he noticed a bag of Doritos sitting open on t…
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The fruits of our labor tend to flourish in the summertime. Students who have dedicated themselves to hours of study finally graduate to the next grade level or receive their diplomas. Teachers bid farewell to the students they’ve impacted and helped…
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Recently, I’ve been catching up on a 2023 Netflix miniseries called, “Bodies.” I’m only halfway through it, so I don’t risk tipping any spoilers (and I’ll appreciate it if no one sends any my way). What makes it fascinating to me is the central role…
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One of the privileges of ministry is experiencing death on a regular basis. Yes, privilege. I’m talking about being actually present for other people’s deaths; though I also could imply death to a variety of myths about immortality, immunity, invinci…
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My best friend, Adam, and I have never lived in the same town. Through life’s chances, we’ve always been separated by at least a drive on the interstate. While we text and check in on each other every day, our favorite pastime is sending each other t…