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The Greatest Illusion
For the last few nights at the dinner table, we have been reading excerpts from the book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. I can’t recommend this book enough, whether you are 12, 22, 42, or 92 years old. This was the dialogue from the book that struck me the most last evening…a dialogue that took place as all four characters (boy, mole, fox, and horse) were standing lakeside watching the beautiful and peaceful swans pass by. “How do they look so together and perfect?” Asked the boy. “There’s a lot of frantic paddling going on beneath,” said the horse. “The greatest illusion,” said the mole,…
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A Stomping Joy
Watching my middle school-year-old boy wrestle with his desire for independence while at the same time finding comfort in boundaries is entertaining, to say the least. The meltdown over cleaning up a granola bar wrapper combined with the contentment of knowing what is expected of him is a fascinating thing to watch. I mean really, is it that upsetting to you that you are expected to throw the empty box of Pop-Tarts into the recycling bin instead of putting it back in the pantry? Which by the way, is right below you? Being his father, I have found the answer to those questions to be a resounding “YES!” Of course,…
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Listening to Time
Tick. Tick. Tick. If we are just quiet enough, the constant tick of a second hand can penetrate the subconscious. Even seep into the depths of our souls. It is the sound of a deeper truth that we both yearn for and fear. I remember hearing a story in Switzerland, the land of “time”, about a young gentleman coming into a store to look for a watch. Upon inspecting a certain watch for about 5 minutes or so, he looked up at the owner and asked: “What can it do?” The store owner simply replied, “It tells the time”. “That’s it?” asked the young gentleman, and walked out. Time is…
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A Beautiful Closure
There was a moment. Dawn. The birth of a new day. It was the 8th day of our visit back to Switzerland and the first rays of sunlight illuminated the mountain peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, or the “big three” as we like to call them. I arose early and walked outside at 6:15 AM to catch a glimpse of the sights and sounds that I missed both in my dreams and in my conscious thoughts since we moved back to the States. As I began to walk the narrow paths and streets of Mürren, Switzerland I rediscovered that deep sense of awe that had struck me so many…
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Perfectly Average
Without a doubt being a parent is one of the most rewarding and difficult vocations that there is. I think every parent knows this. This certainly isn’t anything new. It truly is self-giving. This is probably why it is so rewarding because it truly isn’t about you at the end of the day. As parents, we certainly get our daily reminders of that. (The once-a-month slight nods of appreciation from our kids before right back to not being able to put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher, WHAT IS THAT!!) I recently had a conversation with some parents about the idea of our kids being average. I remember the look…
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Baseball, Friendship, and Bathroom Prophecy
It has been great to reconnect with some friends since returning stateside. Due to the time difference and schedules while living in Switzerland it was hard to touch base even if the desire was there. That said, it’s amazing how easily you can pick back up right where you left off with your close friends. This made me think, what makes a connection like this possible? One good friend of mine is someone that I met while playing professional baseball. We were both 18 years old and fresh out of high school. We immediately connected with the same love of music but honestly, besides that, there wasn’t much of a…
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Age of Wisdom
There seems to be great freedom that comes when you get older. I remember reading an article a year or so ago that suggests that those in their 60’s and 70’s were the most content and happy. Fascinating. I am reminded of a gentleman who used to walk the neighborhood around my boy’s school. I would always take notice of him and watch him. In some ways I guess I was marveling at the possibility of being like him one day. He was always alone and walked at a very slow pace with his cane and cigar. He never said a word, rather he just observed. Plus he had a…
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Mystery and Mirrors
The winds were overwhelming but calming. The periods of rain were drenching but refreshing. The brisk air cut threw your skin but awakened the very breath of life. Standing in its midst was somehow a confrontation with truth. The Highlands of Scotland, with all of its history and mysticism, with its struggle for freedom and bloodshed, was one of the most peaceful places I have been. Isolated by its barren lands yet consumed by its beauty, it was a paradox that touched me deeply. How could such bareness and lack of color produce such overwhelming beauty? How can a place engrossed with emptiness be overflowing with an undeniable…
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Happy New Year…Cheers to Cranberry Juice and Coffee
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. There is something natural about the desire to start anew. To start fresh. To begin something with a clean slate. A new calendar year gives us an invitation to do so. Maybe we have been resisting a change, maybe we want to try something new, or maybe the new year gives us the courage to finally get serious about something that we have ignored in the past. There is a lot of grace in any and all of those things and I hope that each and every one of you have the courage to make this new year what you…
