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Moments in Time: Helena, MT
This week’s destination brings us to Helena, MT. Helena is the state capital of Montana and became known as the “Queen City of the Rockies” due to the boom of the 1864 gold strike. That said, what brings us to the beautiful city of Helena today, is baseball. Specifically, June 1996. We find ourselves at Kendrick Legion Field, at that time, home of the Milwaukee Brewers Rookie Ball Team. I was a skinny young 18-year-old, a boy, playing for the Great Falls Dodgers, the Rookie Ball Team for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the opening night of the Pioneer League, and we had a road series against the…
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“Shining Like The Sun”
There was a moment last week that gave me great pause. Standing in the middle of an outdoor shopping area watching people walk by, I was struck with a profound feeling of wonder. Blame it on the Covid-19 shut-in orders, blame it on not being out and about regularly in almost a year, blame it on sitting every day with my 4th-grade son teaching him. Still, there I was, engaging in an ordinary, mundane activity of heading to the store before a snow storm yet being swept away with feelings of wonder and awe. Namely, to be in the presence of others. What a gift. Standing still and watching people…
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Moments in Time: Worb, Switzerland
This week’s journey takes us to Worb, Switzerland….specifically to a particular bench that was one of my favorite places to sit and regain perspective. Worb is a small village southeast of the city of Bern. It was our home for 4 1/2 years while we lived in Switzerland. We loved it. We lived in a house that sat halfway up the “Worb Hill,” as we would often refer to it. Down the street sat the 13th century Worb Schloss, Worb Castle. We stayed in the converted stable of the NeuSchloss, or the New Castle of Worb. A quick side fun fact to the Neuschloss, the Von Grafienrieds family, has owned…
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Eyes Without a Face
Early on in the pandemic whenever I found myself wearing my mask at the grocery store, the words to a Billy Idol tune would come to mind immediately. Bagging my asparagus, I couldn’t help but hum “Eyes Without a Face.” Over the last few months, I return to that song with every store I find myself in. (Admittedly, I sing rather than hum, but that is beside the point). Although I love 80’s music and specifically that song, something else sparked that song’s words. With mask restrictions in place, maybe we are invited to a more profound way of looking at one another. Like most things in life, we are…
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Modern-Day School Day
It is a lunch break, so I have time to throw some thoughts together as I sit with my 4th grader. So here it goes. To the children who hold back tears throughout the day when they feel completely overwhelmed with virtual school, you are not alone. To the parents who balance so much at the moment, while watching the frustration build in our children only to be the ones to catch the brunt of that frustration, you are not alone. To the excellent teachers who are doing fantastic with what you are being asked to do given the circumstances, you are not alone. With all of this tension and…
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Random Thoughts on my 43 Birthday
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A Moment in Time
There are times in our lives when we are fully present to a moment. Birth of a child, a loss of a loved one, falling in love, traveling, experiencing different cultures, or being taken over by the beauty of nature. During these times, our senses, minds, and souls are open to an enlightened grace and higher consciousness…we are open to a deeper reality and profound beauty. That said, there are other times when we come to see the same unseen truths only through the reflection of our past. As we begin to think back to specific moments throughout our lives, all of the hidden grace, beauty, and truth, become visible…
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A Hidden Truth
There is a calming truth hidden with the tide.Repetitive,Releasing,Relentless,For those who pay attention. The surge rushes ashore.Carries,Crashes,Crushes,The burden of a mind. The ebb returns in peace.Slowly,Steadily,Silently,Purifying the content of a soul. The continuous pattern cleanses.Filtering,Freeing,Forming,A heart filled with gratitude. There is a calming truth hidden with the tide.Vitality,Vulnerability,View,Of a life not my own.
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Now More Than Ever, We Need the Wisdom of Sports
Sports have returned for the most part after being shut down due to Covid-19. From International and National Football (soccer) to MLB, NBA, and Golf, games have at least returned for our viewing pleasure on TV. Although there is much that is different due to all of the necessary health protocols, the essence of sports, competition, and what it means to be a part of a team, a fan is back. It might be helpful to revisit some of those truths for a moment in light of our current culture. Detachment I love sports, from competing to watching them as a fan to now being a father of children who…
