the unlikely orange

"You can't help wondering what would happen if a person running for the presidency decided to set politics in the flag-waving, tub-thumping, ax-grinding sense aside and to speak, instead, candidly, thoughtfully, truthfully out of his or her own heart. Suppose a candidate were to stand up before the reporters and the TV cameras and the usual bank of microphones and say something like this: 'The responsibilities of this office are so staggering that anybody who doesn't approach them with knees knocking is either a fool or a lunatic. The literal survival of civilization may depend on the decisions that either I or one of the other candidates make during the next four years. The general welfare and peace of mind of millions of people will certainly depend on them. I am only a human being. If I have my strengths, I also have my weaknesses. I can't promise that I'll always do the right thing for this country. I can only promise that it will always be this countr...

i'm not one for making political statements.  i make statements about what i believe God desires for us to do as disciples of Jesus, which always  falls into the categories of loving God completely and loving our neighbors freely.  but when it comes to supporting this politician or that one, i generally try and steer clear.  if you attended any church where i've been the pastor, you may hear me speak about issues when it involves our call to love (after all, Jesus made it clear that the only way others will know that we are his disciples is by our love in action), but you've never heard me endorse one candidate or another from the pulpit. in fact, i so much disdain being painted into a corner, that i refuse to be a part of either of our major political parties.  i'm not even an independent! i am a political "none," (which frees me from so much junk mail and rude phone calls, it is amazing!) meaning that i choose not to be associated with any political gro...

"Now those memories come back to haunt me they haunt me like a curse Is a dream a lie if it don't come true Or is it something worse that sends me down to the river though I know the river is dry That sends me down to the river tonight Down to the river my baby and I Oh down to the river we ride"  -Bruce Springsteen, The River as the lights shined bright in the arena, and we all turned on our backs on the empty stage, to file out into the late night, which would soon be morning, and a new song came over the speakers, softer than the sound that we'd heard for the last three and half hours.  even though Bruce Springsteen had descended into his dressing room beneath or behind the stage, with the E-Street Band alongside, he was still trying to say something.  but this song wasn't even in his voice.  it was the beautifully blended harmonies of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris, as they solemnly sang, "as i went down to the river to pray...

happy birthday to my crazy angel-haired son, who turns 9 today.  he's a soccer-loving, football card-collecting, harry potter-reading, goal-scoring, blue-eyed, delight.  he brings us such joy, and we hope he feels just how much we love him, on this day and every day!

baseball is back.  and all seems well in my soul. i know i have written here countless times about the beauty of the game, but i just can't resist saying something once again this spring.  two nights ago i listened to the radio broadcast of the pittsburgh pirates extra-inning walk-off win against their rivals, the cardinals, and the tinny sound of the broadcaster's voices, supported by the the orchestra of the crowd - swelling in crescendo for each possible hit and reacting to every ball and strike; the sounds of the stadium organ, the crack of the bat, the crush of the ball against the catcher's mitt:  all of this is a symphony of sport that is sweet, sweet music to me.  like any music, it can - and does - transport me to another time, hiding under the sheets at 10 years old, listening to the pirates on WAMB, hoping that nobody else could hear the tinny sound of that little radio.  like any music, it moves me and speaks to me and comforts me and calls me t...

here's one out of about a hundred photos i took, trying to get one good one of our boys on easter.  in this one, quin is trying to be an easter bunny. just a post today to say how blessed we are, that even in the midst of transition and uprooting, insane schedules and holy week busyness, our boys are smiling, bringing joy to us and reminding us of the kind of love that is stronger than even death.  that's worth dressing up for, and maybe even worth throwing up the old bunny ears for! life is amazing!  hop a little!