A Blurred Reflection

Tag: identity

  • Character

    Character. That foundational piece of you. Yes, YOU. Untouchable by disease.  Unhindered by poverty. Unmistakable when times get hard. It’s the man battling cancer and the man battling heart disease who invest hope into each other instead of speaking of their own pain. It’s the mom with the uncooperative toddler in the grandchildren photoshoot–the mom…

  • If my hike had a soundtrack…

    The air was the perfect flavor of pine and clean wind as I sauntered along the smooth, shaded path past Lake Hebron that warm-but-not-too-warm day. The loons cried their short-lived daytime conversation and a bandana’d youth sat contemplatively underneath a fir tree, watching the reflection of clouds sweep across the slightly rippled water. His iPod played…

  • My Selfishness as it Relates to Hamburgers

    It all happened when I was mid-burger, 2 minutes in and 3 minutes left on the clock to consume the 67% remainder of the tomato-lettuce-cheese-pickle-beef creation in my hands. I sat there with the tomato-y mayo dribbling down my hands and thought, “How selfish I am! Here I am, scarfing down a 1/4 lb burger…

  • Victors

    Tonight, the headlines irrevocably declare: “120 Dead in Paris Attacks, Worst Since WWII”. Terror is spreading across our planet, and the people of this planet, like ancient wooden ships adrift in a storm, scatter. Some cry, some shout “Revenge!”, some huddle in the paralysis of fear. Some hold up signs that say ‘NOT AFRAID’–a distinctive…

  • Courage

    Isn’t it crazy that even when everything I know and see is on the downstream side of insanity, just hanging on to hope by a thread, Jesus’ name is STILL ‘Deliverer’? Even when I feel like a skittering mouse, MY name, because of my divine heritage, is STILL ‘Courageous Victor’? I’ve thought to myself, “Maybe I’ll find a…

  • Independence Day, All Day, Errry Day

    Do you know what it’s like to be free? Does it feel like a triumphant march, bold, brazen and unstoppable? Does it feel like an entirely new government, a government that actually has your best interest in mind? Does it feel like a fireworks show, loud, colorful and unpredictable? Maybe just a tad dangerous? Does…

  • just call me Moe

    You know what’s so weird? I’m spending this entire year of my life in the wilderness field… well, the rest of my life, hopefully. And it’s the thing I’m the least cut out for. Seriously though. I’m introverted, preposterous and afraid of heights and drowning. Just the other day, a mother called me to talk about her concerns…

  • He Gave Me a New Name

    I stood on top of Fort Fredrick two days ago, and while ants bit my legs and the sea breeze whipped my hair, Jesus and I had a conversation about love. You gotta understand, I’m not so good at loving. Really though. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true. I’m just learning now…

  • That Bum On My Couch

    I was in the second-to-front pew at church the other week, and I was feeling the morning blues. Do you know what I mean? That sandy-eyed, groggy-voiced, brain-not-quite-awake feeling of sluggishness that isn’t really ready for 120 decibels of worship music being emanated directly in front of oneself. Don’t get me wrong, the band was great. I…

  • What I learned about Jesus from the Ironman Triathlon

    Think about what it means to be strong in the Lord, and tell me what you see. I always knew better in my mind, but when push came to shove I used to believe that God wanted macho, 6-pack body-builders of the faith. The ones who overcame all odds by pure determination. Somehow, I switched out the word…