Let me be honest. Giving thanks does not come naturally to me.  Don't get me wrong. I am aware of, and thankful for, all the blessings and goodness and unearned privilege I receive in my life. I am, to the depths of my heart, thankful…

“Sometimes,” said the horse.  “Sometimes what?” asked the boy.  “Sometimes just getting up   and carrying on is  brave and magnificent."  -Charlie Mackesy   The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse Sometimes the days are dark. Sometimes the days are lonely and cold. Sometimes the…

When I think about someone who’s not very thankful, my mind conjures up pictures of a little kid, surrounded by all the toys he could ever want, throwing a fit; or a wealthy person, surrounded by all the comforts they could ever want, bemoaning how…

In my job as a psychologist at the VA, I have the privilege of hearing veterans’ stories and walking with them through difficult times. Often, by the time a veteran enters therapy, he or she may feel devoid of hope because of what he/she has…

Expressing thankfulness can be a bit tricky these days. My world has been in chaos. For the past fifteen years, I’ve been employed by a summer camp ministry that has been thrown into turmoil by COVID-19. People just don’t want to go sleep in a…

It was one of those perfect fall evenings. Cool, crisp air and the smell of freshly fallen leaves provided a perfect accompaniment to the small flames glittering in the fire pit in our backyard.  My buddies arrived one by one, carrying their camping chairs. One…

I’m writing this before election results come out. That said, it doesn’t take a prophet to predict that for some of us our candidate(s) will win; for others, they’ll lose. Which means today brings joy and elation to some, and to others, disappointment or even…

Today is election day. This is the 59th occasion of a presidential vote since Washington secured his first term in 1789. It’s a grand affair and the pinnacle of our experiment with democracy. The stakes are incredibly high as they have been every four years.…

The crunch of leaves under my feet as I walk my dogs. A sip of spicy chai on a crisp fall day. Catching deep conversations with my teenagers. A warm house filled with people I love. A job that I am able to work through…