THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, … More The American Crisis: The Timeless Wisdom of Thomas Paine
Obdurate (adj): stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing, hardened in feelings; resistant to persuasion or softening influences https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obdurate Let’s be honest. We all have the propensity to choose the narrative we want to believe and refuse to consider other perspectives. But what concerns me is the growing trend to remove access to any dissenting point of view. … More For Such a Time as This: “Ballad for the Obdurate”
The timeless nature of literature never ceases to amaze me. How is it that writers from centuries past and different cultures can so clearly understand me and prophetically address the struggles of our time? It’s actually quite simple: we’re all human and there are universal struggles that continue to play out throughout history. The epic … More For Such a Time as This: “Let’s Away”
This Father’s Day I had planned to post a poem I wrote in honor of my Italian father and grandfather a few years back, but this morning I heard the phrase “fathers-forth” in my heart. Deep within me the voice of Gerard Manley Hopkins echoed and I knew that today was a day for Pied … More Father’s Day Blessing from Gerard Manley Hopkins
As the calendar year rolled into June, so began the long awaited restoration and expansion of our home. For years we’ve been planning, and after the shutdown delay, the foundations are being laid and a dream is becoming a reality. My part in the deal (along with my three youngest children, especially) has been demolition … More The True Living Wage
Sometimes, Middle-earth and Perelandra don’t seem so far away! Over the weekend, my friend Kyle mentioned returning to Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and McCullough’s John Adams for inspiration. They spoke to him of enduring hardship to build a better future. At the same time, I’ve been revisiting The Lord of the Rings films … More Insight from the Inklings
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail As a teacher, I’ve heard my share of commencement speakers. I wish I could … More Be Angry? What about Love?
I am a Flyers fan. I know, I know; I’ve lost many of you already. And if I were to predict a playoff series victory against our cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, I can only imagine the comments this post would receive. I might even hit a record high since starting this site. But you … More Considering the Source
Rest. Despite the unrest that fills the atmosphere, this is where I landed Wednesday night. After toiling for an hour or so with two different ideas, the stillness of an early-June twilight on my good friend’s porch demanded my attention and found its way onto the page. A few drafts later, and with my wife’s … More Taking Time to Sabbath
This final installment of last year’s The Guardian photograph of the day poems leaves me with a hopeful note. Poetry is essential because it reminds us that we are all human and what we’ve struggled with or felt for generations still rings true today. It’s why we still read Shakespeare, Tennyson, Whitman, Dickinson, etc. And … More Photo of the Day Poems – Post #17
the deepening ground 