–> I try really hard to remain connected to my friends. But, I often let weeks go by without calling or texting. This week I was reminded of the value of a kind overture. There is nothing like being on the receiving end of genuine encouragement. Every single day this past week one of my friends reached out to me and made it clear in their own way that I was valued. I had to leave a memorial service rather…
Who is my neighbor? It could be someone in close proximity impacted directly by tragedy. It could be the person who loses a loved one in a fire that completely destroys his home. Such an event will be a test of your capacity to be a neighbor. I had an opportunity to reach out to a man who found himself in that very situation yesterday. And in the process, I was reminded once again of the true definition of a neighbor.A…
I have noticed that the superhero movies tend to do well at the box office. The same superhero can be featured in several movies and the theaters are full. Why is that true. Is it attributed to superb acting and engaging special effects? Maybe… I actually think there is another dynamic at work. Our culture longs for heroes. They are out there, if you look. There is a particular longing for the kind of heroes that most people will never…
I attended a safety meeting at the fire department this week. The topic for the evening was: “situational awareness.” It was an excellent presentation regarding the importance of paying attention at a working scene. Situations firefighters are called to can present dangers that unfold fast. The next day I learned that situational awareness is a spiritual discipline as well. I was enjoying my weekly lunch with my friend, who is well into his 80’s. It’s a highlight of every week….
–> If I ever officiate at a graveside service not properly dressed, I think my mother may come back to haunt me. She always made sure I had a nice trench coat for services done on a rainy day. And, she expected me to wear an acceptable wool coat for the chilly ones. When I packed for Charlie Goin’s funeral service in Oklahoma this week, I made a slight mistake. I grabbed the black wool coat from the closet that…
I don’t recall the 7th grade being my favorite year in school. In fact, that may very well have been the worst year in my entire academic experience. It was a socially awkward time. It was a time of searching for a sense of identity. I had to deliver a speech in English class that year. The teacher made it clear in her critique of said speech that my future would not be in public speaking… Thankfully, my occupational identity…
My sister, Dr. Kerry Knox, passed away one year ago this weekend. She still had so much in life she had hoped to accomplish. As a professor in a medical school, she was assigned to researching suicide in veterans and related issues. She worked in conjunction with the US Air Force, as they did research they hoped would impact lives for many years to come. But, for Kerry, it came to a sudden end on October 21st of last year. I…
I have told my friends for nearly 30 years that being a police chaplain is very much an “out of the box” ministry. It’s ministry in the field and not in a church building! And it’s a ministry to all kinds of people of all ages coming from all walks of life. And…I love it!! In recent years, my law-enforcement chaplaincy efforts have expanded to those serving in Emergency Medical Services. I have been welcomed with open arms by these…
All of my life I I have heard the phrase “mending fences” in regard to seeking reconciliation. If a relationship is strained, you strive to go “mend some fences” with that person. It’s really descriptive. When a friendship is meaningful, you open the gate to your heart. Your friend is allowed into the areas of your life that are protected by a privacy fence. Relational fences create healthy boundaries with the rest of the world. Only those closest to you…
You live in a house for years. You grow up in that house. And then the day comes that you never imagined as a kid. It becomes your responsibility to clean every last possession out of that house and give the keys to a realtor. Your parents are both deceased at this point. There is no need to keep the family home. And of course, the memories flood your mind. Images of bicycles piled in the front yard are vivid. …