Society
Reflecting On Time
After the birth of my son, my view of time was transformed. My son was born a healthy, happy baby, or so we thought at the time. We learned that he was born with a very rare genetic disorder called Hutchinson-Guilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), often referred to as “Progeria”, for...
Strengthening Reckless Minds
Mark Lilla’s The Reckless Mind: Intellectuals in Politics is a cautionary study for all of us. Rather than an indictment of intellectuals in politics, he is more broadly examining how some of the most well-recognized philosophers of the 20th century—the smartest people on earth—so egregiously misjudged the ideological ramifications of...
Control
On July 11th, 2015, I woke to the sound of thunder. And a pit in my stomach the size of a beach ball. The previous day had been nearly perfect. 80 degrees and sunny. 18 holes of golf, tent, tables, and chairs set up, some time by the pool, and...
The Ambiguity of Heroes
Rev. Professor Peter Gomes (1942-2011) was an American Baptist minister who, from 1974 to the time of his death, served as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pursey Minister in The Memorial Church, Harvard University. The following post is an excerpt from his sermon, The Ambiguity of Heroes, which was...
A Prescriptive Post-Mortem for Iowa
Published 12/30/2018 in the Telegraph Herald “A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite for Democracy” - Thomas Jefferson We have a vested interest in the health of our state. We work, educate our children, and participate in community life. We pay taxes to support public schools, infrastructure, public safety, and medical care...
An American Armistice
On Sunday, November 11, 2018 I had the distinct honor of praying the benediction at the Centennial Armistice Ceremony at the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery and Memorial in France. Our family prepared by watching the classic film Sergeant York, which depicts the events that took place at the Meuse-Argonne. About an hour...
In Service to Our Better Angels
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham’s recently released The Soul of America: the Battle for Our Better Angels is the source of conversation in pundit circles these days. For some, The Soul of America is a subtle critique of the Trump administration and its policies. For others, the book is a...
Clear The Path
A common relationship during the Roman Empire was that of a Patron with his Anteambulo. Often an artist, writer, or performer, the relationship consisted primarily of the Anteambulo fulfilling small tasks, delivering messages, or running errands in exchange for money, food, or favors. The literal definition of Anteambulo is ‘a...
Pa
Pa (Patrick) Lough is my new 90-year-old friend. He lives in Kincasslagh, a village of about 44 people, in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the place he has called home for 90 years. When we first met, Pa informed me that his people have lived in that area since 1732,...
Adventure
Originally published on August 19th, 2018 in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. Dear Son (or Daughter): The summer of 1974 was a pivotal moment in American history. The United States was one year away from exiting Vietnam. Watergate was coming to a close. For the first time in American history, a...
