The Operative Word
The photo above is the portion of our mature woods where this year we tapped six sugar maples, collecting over 80 gallons of fresh maple sap. Not being prepared yet to complete the process, we gave this away to friends to include in…
A Single Purpose
When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2) This has long been…
Salvation Is Nearer Than You Think
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) I’ve been slowly re-reading through St. Augustine’s City of…
Telltale Bookends
I’m in the process of taking one more step towards trying to understand what so called self-imposed “retirement” is. So, I’m rearranging, upgrading, and organizing my small home Study. The goal is to make it so appealing, warm, comfortable, even inspiring, that I’ll…
The Face of Jesus?
Do you see Him? I called my son Richard to come out of the basement, away from his computerized war game, and see. At first he didn’t, but then, in time, he saw, and said, matter-of-factly, “Wow”, and returned downstairs to his game.…
His communication is true, because it is inspired by love.
It was really cold out there this morning. None the less, I followed my usual routine. I first fed our four barn cats, and then cautiously walked down the frost-covered hill to fill the bird feeders. As I was inserting the suet squares…
Good Fence Lines
The fence line in the above photo has a Michenerian history, and as “just an old man out standing in my field”, my entire homesteading experience definitely has the same Michenerian bent. You may be wondering what the heck is a “Michenerian” bent?…
A Blessing, Not a Burden
Maybe only older folk like me can relate to this article, but frankly, I wish I would have taken this more seriously much earlier in life. Seriously, I can’t put any of this off any more; now is the time. It’s time for…
Mystery Solved
Disconcerting is the only word for it. This past Sunday was a fine, relaxing, normal day out here in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Well, not exactly normal. My wife, Marilyn, was away up north visiting the grandkids, so I was alone…
Another Warning Ignored
I suppose there’s some similarity between the photos of this past weekend’s downing of the Chinese Spy Balloon and that of the Challenger disaster. But, of course, there are no true similarities, and so any implied comparison is insensitive and shallow. I suppose…
God Looks on the Heart
Saint Paul issued special warnings to the Christians at both Rome and Corinth. To the Romans he wrote: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have…
Poverty of Spirit
As they do every third year, the Beatitudes sneak up upon us as the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. And everyone, especially my age, has heard or read the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount…
A Warning Ignored
Thirty-seven years ago this weekend, seven astronauts suffered a horrendous death as the space shuttle Challenger exploded in mid-air seventy-three seconds after takeoff. Almost anyone, at least in America, who was alive at that moment has the visual image of that explosion etched…
How to Handle Your Grandchildren
I’m a grandfather. I didn’t just become one—I’ve been one for eleven years. And I’ve got six wonderful grandchildren. Actually, I should say Marilyn and I are grandparents. Marilyn is the good grandparent, the cuddly one, the one to whom the grandchildren naturally…
“An old Farmer’s Rant” Revisited
A year or so ago I posted about the visit of a friend, an aging “wanted-to-be” farmer. He and I were relaxing in front of our hearthstone wood stove, when he started to rant. “You know, there was a time when my contentment…
“Life From Our Land” Revisited
Seven years ago, it was a great honor and humble surprise to be asked to speak on of all things Agrarian Distributism. For me to do this square on would truly have been a clear example of the Peter Principal, for being by…
Count It All Joy
Have you ever received a gift, that wasn’t, well, what you were expecting? Maybe it was a bit of a disappointment. Maybe you had your heart set on something else, or you had in your mind something a bit more appealing? Your taste…
Petra’s Fish & Chips*
Fred grew up in a small coastal New England town. Like most other New Englanders, Fred loved sea food. Though there were many sea food restaurants in his small town, from the time he had his first taste of Cod, he and his…
Strive to Enter God’s Rest
The First Reading for Friday’s Mass is far more significant than the attention, I fear, it too seldom receives. And even if it receives any mention in what are usually short Friday homilies, its true significance can be missed if not seen within…
Have This Mind Among Yourselves
I’ve been hesitant to jump back into blogging. Since I’m essentially retiring from active ministry, I just wasn’t sure what my first step back into the fray ought to be. Long ago, I posted above my desk St. Paul’s commitment from 1 Corinthians…
Just an Old man out standing in his field 