My 26-Year-Old Mid-Life Crisis

The only birthday that triggered something akin to a mid-life crisis was my 26th. It dawned on my that I could never utter the phrase, “I’m in my early twenties.” Some might argue that that would have been true on my 25th birthday, but there was something about turning twenty-six that tripped me up. The…

A World Without Patriarchy

Imagine the end of patriarchy. As a white, heterosexual male in his fifties, I’m one of the most privileged people on the planet. The only way I could gain more status is by becoming 4 inches taller. Still, I find it important for me to picture a world without patriarchy. I realize I don’t understand…

Guns Don’t Kill People, But People With Guns Do.

I am an omnivore, so, I get the hunting rifle. But the handgun? That, I do not get. This comes in large part from my understanding of what it means for me to follow Jesus. (CAUTION: Please keep the safety engaged. I did not just say all Christian handgun owners were not true followers of…

Curse of the Middle Child

I’m the human on the far left. Not technically in the middle of this photo For the first nine years of my life I sat between two brothers who were about a year or two on either side of me. Shortly after turning nine, my little sister joined us, and later, other step siblings. But…

On the Virtues of Pipe Smoking

Let me start by saying that I am aware that pipe smoking, even for those who, like me, don’t inhale, still increases ones risk of lip, tongue and throat cancer. OK, now that this is out of the way we can proceed. If you want to come at me about putting stuff in your body…