At this time of year, with Christmas just a few hectic weeks away, any discussion of inner peace may seem abstract at best. If the shopping and cooking and decorating and wrapping and many social obligations don’t get your peace, then a family member is sure to bring up politics at the dinner table and … Continue reading Advent — Our Journey Back Into the Garden
Enjoy the gift of giving to others
Congratulations. If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the Thanksgiving triple threat of undercooked turkey, indigestion and heated family table talk of impeachment. But, aside from a fridge full of leftovers, what do we take away from this holiday? The name itself seems to be a simple answer to a superfluous question. Thanksgiving. It is about … Continue reading Enjoy the gift of giving to others
‘Good to know your enemy’ — Alzheimer’s caregiver urges others to seek education, support
ENID, Okla. — This Thanksgiving, Sheila Gilbert, of Enid, will be making a drive few would want to make. She'll be driving almost three hours to the Claremore Veterans Center, where her husband, David, is one of 5.7 million Americans living with dementia — a number expected to double over the next two decades. The … Continue reading ‘Good to know your enemy’ — Alzheimer’s caregiver urges others to seek education, support
For a love that transcends life…
This column originally published on Nov. 22, 2019, one day after a training mishap at Vance Air Force Base claimed the lives of Lt. Col. John “Matt” Kincade, 47, an instructor pilot assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, survived by his wife and two sons, and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie, 23, a student … Continue reading For a love that transcends life…
‘Sesame Street,’ Fred Rogers, and regaining the moral courage of our youth
Anyone with a taste for warm fuzzies should be able to get their fill between this week and next. On Wednesday, the community celebrated World Day of Kindness — a day packed with do-gooding all over town. Sunday evening, the “Sesame Street” 50th anniversary will air on PBS, celebrating a half century of helping children … Continue reading ‘Sesame Street,’ Fred Rogers, and regaining the moral courage of our youth
Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Anyone who ever stood at the water’s edge as a child, throwing rocks with abandon, knows the imagery in that quote, from the Dalai Lama. The problem is, just as the pebble is ignorant … Continue reading Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
Blessed are you, the Church Militant
This sermon originally was delivered on Nov. 3, 2019 in observance of the Feast of All Saints, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Who is a saint? As we gather here in a sanctuary named for St. Matthew, that may seem an odd question. Certainly, all the canonized saints are included in this definition … Continue reading Blessed are you, the Church Militant
Tragedy reveals our true nature — but let’s not wait for tragedy
You don’t have to look far in the news to see tragedy. As humans, we are fascinated with tragedy. Nothing piques the collective interest more than someone else’s suffering. We certainly should learn from tragedy and suffering. But, perhaps our focus should be shifted — or maybe just broadened — to shine light on … Continue reading Tragedy reveals our true nature — but let’s not wait for tragedy
The true meaning of the day after Halloween
For many, today is a day to sort through the sacks of candy the kiddos brought home, perhaps liberate a few of the choicest morsels for Mom and Dad, and set the rest aside to be thrown out sometime around Christmas. But, other than the obvious excuse to eat way too much candy, why do … Continue reading The true meaning of the day after Halloween
To be great, we need to put our money on the future
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." When Thomas Edison said those words to his friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, shortly before his death in 1931, he was … Continue reading To be great, we need to put our money on the future
