Reflections/Podcasts

He told me, “There came a day when I knew I needed to tell someone about the abuse I had endured at my father’s hands.” After years of counseling and learning to live more honestly in my faith, I finally told my brother. I believed I was telling someone safe. I wasn’t. Within days, my entire family knew. Then my phone rang. “Why are you spreading lies about me? I should come over there and kill you.” I answered, “If I see you coming down my street, I’ll call the police.” Then

I remembered it as if it were yesterday. I stood just inside our garage, surrounded by its neat clutter, tears welling in my eyes. All I prayed for was to take our kids camping—to spend time with them and Jeanne outdoors, fishing and sharing incredible meals over a campfire. But our funds didn't allow it. Though this prayer seemed small, it was deeply meaningful to me, a longing I'd long forgotten. This particular day, I found myself walking in that very longing. Climbing the

Embracing the Chaos The storm settled in. In the Midwest, people often sit on porches to watch thunderstorms or tornadoes, holding coffee or sweet tea. We're both fascinated and afraid of storms, drawn to their awe but sometimes forgetting the danger. That stormy feeling covered me as a pre-teen, wandering Louisville's Highlands streets at night. I spent those nights aimlessly, seeking distraction from home. Whoever wandered with me was welcome if it meant escaping reality—sm

The Weight of Childhood Trauma It was 1974. The year that marked the end of the Vietnam War, brought us Elton John’s "Bennie and the Jets," and gifted us "The Godfather Part II." I was nine years old, a time filled with carefree days of goofing off in class, riding bikes, and staying up late on summer nights. The world felt like an endless horizon of hope, where I could look up at a boundless sky and dream of a wide-open future. That’s how it should be for a nine-year-old, ri

The Power of Words Sometimes, a line grabs you at just the right moment. Most of us have felt this. You’re driving to work, and a song...

Not so long ago, a friend (let’s call her “Sarah”) approached me with news that many of us have either heard or even shared ourselves:...

Homeless Jesus Think about the last time you drove downtown in a major city. For some, it’s a daily occurrence—the morning commute to...

Typically, these things are more of a feeling or a sudden awareness. This one was not. It was clear and pronounced. Still, I kept working. I just wasn’t sure.

I can still remember the shock I felt when my Greek professor asked me to stay after class. I was in my thirties, working three part-time...