give

  • Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Saint Francis.

    Today is Veteran’s Day. It is the day when we recognize and celebrate all those who served in any branch of the U.S. military. My father, George C. Brown, Jr., was one of those veterans. He served in the U.S.… Continue reading

  • Spirit Sculpting

    Alright, you caught me. I’ll come clean and admit it: sometimes I have a tendency toward laziness. Yes, I do have the capacity to work hard on a project or goal… sweating (literally and figuratively) every detail. But now and… Continue reading

  • Considering Sacrifice

    My apologies for showing up late with a reflection on Memorial Day. I began writing this on Monday with the very best of intentions and then… well, stuff happened. For me, the word that should be most central to this… Continue reading

  • Sharing Sea Bass

    Forgive me, blogosphere, for I have sinned. Today’s confession: I am not good at sharing.  Especially when it comes to food. But don’t take my word for it. Just ask Joan. Allow me to set the scene: Joan and I are… Continue reading

  • Like a bridge…

    When you’re weary, feeling small When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough And friends just can’t be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay… Continue reading

  • Daring to Follow

    I just tried an experiment on Facebook to see what might happen. I didn’t originally intend to make this experiment the topic of a blog post, but the results were so interesting I just had to share them with y’all.… Continue reading

  • Give it up

    Here in the U.S., we sing proudly about being citizens of, “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” And yet most of the time we define freedom as “my right to do whatever I damned well… Continue reading

  • The Guatemalan Giggle of Grace

    In my life, moments of grace have come in many different forms. The compassionate word. The gentle glance. The understanding touch. The sweet smile. My heart will always reserve a special place for that day when grace came in the… Continue reading

  • Confessions of a human punching bag

    If memory serves, sixth grade was the last time I was ever in a genuine fistfight. It was a hot summer day. As usual, I was at the community swimming pool with my friends splashing, diving, and horsing around. When… Continue reading

  • Christmas Present

    It is one of the hardest questions I ever have to answer at this time of year. I puzzle over it for hours and still really don’t ever come up with a good answer. The question in question is, “So,… Continue reading