Last weekend marked the beginning of Ben's 28th year on this earth. Although he has accumulated the years of a man, his heart and understanding are that of a small child. Ben's calendar is simple: Starting on December 26, he starts anticipating his birthday. And on June 28th, he begins to eagerly anticipate Christmas. Every … Continue reading A Special Birthday
Blogs
My Fathers
I had a good father. He taught me how to save money and to love words. He was a small-town newspaper editor who wore cardigans and caps and garnered the respect of all who knew him. If it's true that we picture God somewhat like our fathers, then mine gave me the impression that God … Continue reading My Fathers
Emergence
Quarantine is over and restrictions are lifting. Like a deer in the woods we peer out at life, hesitant. How long will it be before we dream again? These months have been heavy. Fearful. Numbing. Our noble goals for quarantine productivity long ago dissolved into apathy. Efforts at uplifting each other gave way to videos of … Continue reading Emergence
Fog
The fog lay gently on the lake this morning as I left for my daily walk. A loon called from beyond my field of vision.The colors of the morning faded into the gray dampness. When I was very young we lived by the ocean, where the fog often lay thick and heavy over my neighborhood. … Continue reading Fog
Launch
Before every rocket launch, there is a lengthy time of preparation. The crew needs to be equipped for their flight, communication systems tested, fuel loaded, trajectory calculated. There is a lot of advice out there on how to get through this Covid 19 quarantine period. It's been a good time to rest, reorganize our lives, … Continue reading Launch
The Gifted
Sometimes God's gifts come wrapped in grief. When you find yourself blindsided and reeling, you find that you have been issued an invitation into a raw intimacy with a God you never expected. John 9 tells the story of Jesus healing a blind man. "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born … Continue reading The Gifted
Stacking Legos
In addition to Down Syndrome, my son Ben has Autism. Part of what comes with that is a delight in making patterns. His favorite activity while watching tv is to make a pattern tower with his Legos. He does this by continuously removing the bottom row and putting it on top. This creates a perpetual … Continue reading Stacking Legos
A Kiss
Our son Ben has Down Syndrome, Autism and is nonverbal. He is a 3-year old in a man's body. This past year he insisted that I play the theme for his favorite pro wrestler while he struts out to the bus in the mornings. In order to look as cool as possible, he sports a … Continue reading A Kiss
A Baptism
He stands on the shore of Prairie Lake, swinging his arms and jumping up and down like Michael Phelps preparing to break another world record. It is a rainy, chilly day but he doesn't seem to notice as he rushes down the hill into the cold water to stand with our pastor. His people cheer … Continue reading A Baptism
A View of the Lake 