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The Bridge
Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness. -Pope Francis The first step, that very first step So hard but filled with such emotion Our feelings propel us to act They propel us to move So we step We walk “It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all. The opposite of love is indifference.” -The Lumineers, “Stubborn Love” Yet, the more that we walk Our feelings fail us They die We are exposed Our inner most identities cry out Our daily activities no longer hide our desires We are left with simply ourselves We are on the…
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To Change or Not To Change
There was a moment when it hit me. Deep down I knew that it was never going to be the same again. Although things looked identical, my relationship to them had somehow changed. My friends were still there and yet my connection to them was different in ways that I could not explain. I was an 18 year old young man and home for the first time after leaving high school and I was confronted with the reality that I had changed. And this scared me. On one hand this community had brought me comfort and security, and now it no longer gave me the same feelings. On the other…
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One Year Later
One year ago, we moved across the globe to Switzerland and began a new chapter in our lives. It feels like just yesterday that we put our belongings on a boat, said our goodbyes, and boarded a plane to a new country with a one-way ticket. It certainly has been a great adventure thus far. Here are ten quick observations and thoughts on our first year in Switzerland: Switzerland is Beautiful Amy and I are amazed at the overwhelming beauty that this country has to offer. It seems that no matter where we go, either into the mountains or walking the streets of a new city or village, the scenic…
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The Corner of Church and Gay
The other day I was asked by a friend about the place that I come from. “What part of the world is it?” “What is it like?” My answer was quick, as we had to begin our days…but her questions lingered long after we said our good-byes. Driving away I thought about the simplicity of my answer and how little my description did to convey the beauty found within the community in which I come from. The more I drove, the more my thoughts painted a picture of the wealthy town that we left. I thought about the buildings, the parks, the restaurants, the people. Until finally I found myself…
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Die Hausmann (The Houseman)
I have to be honest that the first time I was called it, it rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was because of the accent “HA-ous-Mah-n”. Or maybe because it was something that I never identified myself with before. I mean to answer a question posed by strangers, “Was tun Sie hier in der Schweiz zu tun?” (What do you do here in Switzerland?) with “Ich bin eine Hausmann” (I am a Houseman) is awkward to say the least. I mean on one hand it sounds way to formal for washing floors and toilets. On the other hand it sounds like I should be getting paid for this. And…
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Hope and Home
Walking through the familiar door into the place that I called home for most of my childhood and teenage years brought contentment and a sense of peace, yet also confliction. I knew what stair created the loudest creak. I knew what seat gave the best view of the TV. Looking up at night, I knew the shadows on the ceiling before I fell asleep. This was my home during some of the most influential times of my life. This was my home that gave birth to great joy, great sorrow, and great love. This was my home. And yet, I was a visitor. For this was my parent’s home. Pulling…
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Happy Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American family and friends both at home and abroad. For us, it was our first Thanksgiving living in a country that doesn’t celebrate the holiday. As a result, yesterday was a normal day for us here in Switzerland. It was a school day for my boys. It was a work day for my wife Amy. And it was a grocery store and laundry day for me. It was a Thursday. There were no high school football games to attend. There were no parade’s to watch. There was not an all-day eating and drinking binge. And there will be no leftovers for today. There was…
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Paris, Death, and Uncertainty
It has been one week since evil raised its head in Paris. One week. One week of news reports about those who carried out these attacks. One week of wondering how this could happen again. One week of speculating what and who is next. There was a moment last Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours from the time the first bullets flew and the first bombs detonated, that I watched my four year old son play outside as if there was no evil in the world. He played with such intensity. He played with such vigor. He played as if death did not show its head less than 4 hours away in a city…
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The Crumbs of Holiness
A couple of days ago, I had a bit of a temper tantrum over the ever-present crumbs that continue to find their home in our house. Some like to live on our kitchen floor. Some would rather stay on the countertops. And some like the view of our dining area from underneath the table. As much as I try to escort them out of our house with a ride in the vacuum, their friends seem to take their places immediately. It is a battle that is never ending. And one that triggers things within me that are not pleasant. Now, I don’t have to look very far to see who…
