Superpowers

The greatest superhero of all is Superman, hands down. Ironman and Batman have cool gadgets, the Hulk is both a formidable and sympathetic foe, Captain America commands our respect, but Superman is pure other-worldly superpower channeled through a morally upright heart. You can't beat that.My ... Continue reading

Trust vs. faith

I've been thinking about what I mean when I say that I trust God. My money says "In God we trust," which I think is intended as a moral lesson teaching that money shouldn't be foundation of life. I'm not sure how effective the message is. When I say that I trust in God, or I have put my trust in ... Continue reading

Peacemakers in a world at war

A neighbor who knew I had money came to me one day with a plea: his mother was sick, needed medicine, and he was broke. Could I lend him $200? He would pay it back in a week, he said, but today he was strapped for cash and his mother needed help.I had some reasons to think he was probably ... Continue reading

Craving love

I'm craving a glazed donut. A Krispy Kreme would be ideal, but there are no stores nearby, so I would settle for a counterfeit. No fruit flavors, please. Certainly no crunchy sprinkles. Just give me a lightly-cooked melt-in-your-mouth baked morsel slathered in a creamy, sweet icing.The grocery I ... Continue reading

Everything Sad is Untrue: A Review

I have a memory of Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house. I may have been seven or eight years old. The living room is crowded with adults who are taking turns telling stories from their shared past. My cousin, Paul Ticer, launches into one about my Aunt Addie that leaves her laughing so hard she ... Continue reading

Clothed in love

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, ... Continue reading

Should we have children?

“The decision to have children has always struck me as an essentially selfish one: You choose, out of a desire for fulfillment or self-betterment or curiosity or boredom or baby-mania or peer pressure, to bring a new human into this world. And it has never seemed more selfish than today. From a ... Continue reading

When suicide sat down to dinner

“After you were born, your mother told me: 'We're just here to be memories for our kids.'”Cooper saying goodbye to Murphy in the movie InterstellarI barely remember my father, and what “memories” I have might be manufactured, for all that I know. I suspect most of them are just impressions ... Continue reading