The Shining Sun

An American Christian I have for some time wanted to write.  These wonderful ideas enter my mind and I think they are worthy of being written down.  So I do.  They are scattered far and wide in multiple notebooks, loose-leaf papers, and various Word documents saved on the computer.  Recently, I realized that I had to create a place to share my thoughts, views, and musings for me to commit to stating clearly the pondering of my heart.  As you can see in my profile, much of what I have been processing has to do with reconciling my identity as an American with my identity as a Christian. Most of my friends, peers, and colleagues don't see a need to do this.  They have no problem being both an American and a Christian as easily as you and I breath air.  I am wired differently. I lived in another country, Costa Rica, with my family for four years.  While there I realized that many of my views of life were locked in and limited by my upbring...

The Sun in my face Celebrating God’s Grace No better place to be In the darkest of night No light in sight I am my Father’s delight Depending on Him in good times and bad Makes my Father’s heart glad

A Hug Saves a Soul:  Part I The story I have to share with you today is startling, somber, serious, and sad. The story begins with a small fragile vulnerable baby at fourteen months of age. We start the story at this point because it really sets the stage for seventeen years of struggle and suffering. We zoom in to see a family in the in the mid-1960s. A family of nine children. We pause just long enough to see a father who was not able to pay the heating bill.  His young baby nearly dies of double pneumonia. Our focus changes to see a distraught mother who has to make the most difficult decision in her whole life. With one phone call to Catholic services, she sets in motion the future of her nine children.   No one in her family steps in to help so the children go into group homes and into foster homes. Today we only have time to track the life of that 14-month-old baby. Our tender little baby enters into a loving family were all of his needs are pr...