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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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The Call of a Father
There was a scene in the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens that captivated me. I must admit I am not a Star Wars expert or fanatic, but I grew up watching the original trilogy like most young boys of my generation and I loved it. So now being a father myself and watching the new film with my eight-year-old son made the experience that much more memorable. Without spoiling anything, the scene I mention for those who saw the movie is the one that left most of us gasping with a collective “WHY?” It was the scene in which Hans Solo confronts his son, Kylo Ren. For those…
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Kandersteg, Switzerland
Today I was able to go to a place that I have been wanting to go to since moving here to Switzerland, namely, Kandersteg and Lake Oeschinensee. After about a 50 minute drive from our house I arrived in Kandersteg and went up the lift to trails leading me to Lake Oeschinensee. My family and I are very grateful to experience this adventure in Switzerland and have seen some beautiful places. But this is near the top of my list. The combination of the majestic peaks of the Alps and the silent serene landscape of the snow and trees made this visit very spiritual. For it took me out of…
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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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The Mountains and the Divine
Why do I need more? There is a profound yearning within me when I see such beauty. There is a profound desire within my soul in the face of such majestic sights. I want more. I desire more. Why isn’t this enough? The sight of such creation seems to come in the form of an invitation rather than a sense of contentment. For the beauty in front of me I see. I touch. I climb. I smell. And yet my senses can’t fill the holes of my desire. My eyes can’t lessen the deep yearning with that in which I can see. Creation is inviting my humanity into the mystery…
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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…
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A Single Tree
(One of the things that my wife and I both love are the “single trees” that shower the landscapes all over Switzerland. Here are a few in our village of Worb. This has made me think, beyond their beauty, what can a single tree teach us about our spirituality and relationship with God) A Single Tree Today I stand in silence, And it prompts me to be still To be still And hold onto my words To be still And resist the need to act To be still And reside within my name Rooted in Your creation I lose my stature I lose my fullness I lose my looks Thank…
