I enjoy hiking. There’s something refreshing about being out on a trail somewhere, away from stuff and buildings and noise and traffic. Most of my hiking has been the day-hike variety. Arrive at a trailhead at some point in the morning, lace up my boots, grab the hiking pole, and…
Pop singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan scored a hit with the song Ordinary Miracle, which included the following lyrics: It’s not that unusual When everything is beautiful. It’s just another ordinary miracle today. The sky knows when it’s time to snow, Don’t need to teach a seed to grow. It’s just another…
Many years ago when living in Vermont, we took a vacation to Bar Harbor, Maine & Acadia National Park. One of the boasts of the area is that, if you’re at the top of Cadillac Mtn at sunrise, you’ll be the first to see it in the United States. So…got…
For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed being outdoors, especially camping and hiking—just didn’t do much of it. If I’d had my druthers growing up, I would have joined Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts; however, being a pastor’s kid, it wasn’t an option. Scout meetings always conflicted…
Looming on the horizon later this Thanksgiving week, Black Friday beckons the highly commercialized and materialistic West to shop. Luring us into the darkness with promises of unbeatable deals on everything from diamonds and luxury cars to toys and clothing, shoppers are urged to forgo sleep to take advantage of…
In contrast to the bright hues of springtime, the variegated greens of summer, and the warm colors of autumn, winter can seem somewhat drab—bare trees, white (if there’s any snow) or brown ground, and short, often cloudy, days. And yet…. Driving across the Rock River bridge this morning, with the…
I’ve never been a great fan of winter. Sure, as a kid I had fun sledding, building an occasional snowman or two, and battling a bit in snowball wars. But I’ve always preferred the warmer days of spring, summer, and fall. Part of the reason for my distaste for the…
