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Feeling the Falls
Photos were taken at Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. They are considered to be the largest underground waterfalls in Europe. Growing up, I remember thinking that my tendency to be introspective was a deficiency, almost a sign of weakness. So much so that in certain circles, especially when participating in sports, I often felt less masculine. I had bought into the “men don’t feel, men don’t cry, men don’t show emotion” mantra. I remember feeling like I always had to turn off my thoughts but never could. As a result, my natural tendencies to feel and think brought about many insecurities. I am less insecure about it today, but I…
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Opposites
It’s summer. Which means less structure. Late nights. Travel. And time to enjoy the warmth of the sun. For many of us we have spent the last few months counting the days until the first day of summer. Yet, after spending one week with our children in the house all day, it can also be the time when we count the days until school begins again. I am currently experiencing the second summer in Switzerland comprised of these types of days with my boys. Days in which I am both very grateful for and don’t ever want to change. For I know it is time that I will never get…
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A “Religious” Walk Home
One night, while walking home from my small Swiss village of Worb, I had an intense “religious” experience. This experience prompted childhood memories of my past and gave my present-day desires and future longings a place and time to be experienced. The pathway home was lit only by the full moon’s reflective light, which reminded me of walking down a dark Pennsylvania road as a boy, wanting nothing more than to know who I was in relation to this big world. At the same time, the dark Swiss countryside was calling me to be present not only to my desires of today but also to my cravings for what is…
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Stockhorn
A beautiful day on the Stockhorn, a mountain peak in the Swiss Alps.
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The Bridge
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 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 journey Our anxiety builds So we look left, we look right We look for anything to save us We even look behind us But our past can’t help us now We are on the journey Our bodies ache Our thoughts run…
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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: 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 landscapes captivate us…
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Blausee, Switzerland
A walk in Nature walks the soul back home -Mary Davis The magical Blasusee, Switzerland.
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Time is Love
The thoughts blow in uninvited during certain times of our lives. And the feelings accompanying these thoughts make us pause, at least for a moment, and wonder how the days of our lives keep coming and going like the sea tide under our feet. Sometimes, we welcome these thoughts and can wrestle with a greater truth. On other occasions, we don’t or just can’t. So, we move quickly to replace them with thoughts we believe will make us happier. Or, at the very least, thoughts that masquerade the reality of our current state. Nevertheless, whether we welcome or resist them, we have no power over the truth of where these…
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Bern, Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland, has been our home city for about a year. Even though we live just outside of the city in the village of Worb, my wife Amy goes to work there every day, and it is where my kids love to walk the arcades and look in the shops. The slow pace and beautiful architecture of the capital city of Switzerland captivate us every time we walk its century-old streets. One of my goals for this New Year is to explore a new place in Switzerland at least once a week. Whether that is a day excursion into the Alps, exploring the many different trails and lakes, or experiencing…
