The Woman by the Boat-2
This is the photo from Google Earth that first inspired me to write the story. The boat I depict is a bit different, but the basic image is the same–along with the rocky beach and the mist. Photo credit: frparm on Google Earth: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=46.991516&ln=-56.278142&z=4&k=2_____ “The Woman by the Boat” –Second of three parts– One old man didn’t need to see her at the market. Charles lived in a cottage at the north end of the rocky beach. Boat parts, nets, harpoons, and tackle decorated his home inside and out. He had survived a lifetime on the sea. And he had…
The Meaning and Purpose of Life
Just this once I’ll post here what I’ve written for “Connections.” That’s because I’m thinking of putting it in my online library and would welcome any feedback. What do you think? Be honest and brutal. “The Meaning and Purpose of Life” What’s the meaning of life? I’d be lying if I gave an answer. And I encourage you to avoid looking. Why? Because it’s greater than any one of us can embrace. To think otherwise would reduce God to a cartoonish image of what we can contain. We could say that the meaning of life is to come into relation…
New Year Change
If it’s not working, change it. I’ve been blogging most Tuesdays on what may be God’s point of view–or a view in light of eternity–of news and interests. Not too many people seem to be reading. (If you’re reading, thank you!) Also I’m becoming convinced that my blogging needs to be more integrated with what I actually write for publication, and spiritual commentary on the news (noble as that may be) is not it. I write nonfiction to help people connect with God and fiction to bring light into a dark world. I also collaborate to help others bring their stories…
Sanity for Ferguson, Missouri
Through all the fire and smoke and anger and fear and frustration–and through all the shouting–if we saw as God sees, what might we see? Everyone sees a police force that shows evidence of misconduct or poor conduct, particularly where African-Americans are concerned. We might also see a community that has had racial divide, enforced in the early part of the twentieth century by a fence that separated blacks from whites with a gate that was locked every evening until the 1940s. And ever since has been home to racial tensions. We might also see a dysfunctional family, in which a…
Jihadi Hunter Dad
Here’s a former military dad with guts: Dimitri Bontinck of Belgium had a son who converted to Islam, fell in love with a Moroccan girl, and apparently went to Syria to fight with ISIS. Unlike most of us who would fret and lament, this dude went after his kid, as in he went down there and brought the kid home. He’s even gone back down there and brought other kids home. Now that’s a real man. How many people would have such a combination of love and guts? Seriously. His son is now on trial, and Dad is advocating for…
