my careless contagion

Though I may have overshared on this platform (after all, someone may actually be reading), it has a purpose. I'm going to hold back a little because what God is doing is precious and I want to focus on it. Having said that, here is a very hopeful post. Let it soak into your heart. There is always hope when one seeks God. Some things happened recently that changed the trajectory of my life. This isn’t a gee-look-how-great-I’m-doing post. And I know how far I have to go. But, it is a step in the right direction. A big step.  When I thought of moving forward with a woman, I conjured the phrase "looking for a beautiful soul and a curious mind." Then I added she must protect my heart. Quite an important afterthought. Indeed, my Tumblr says something like "love letters to a beautiful soul," though that soul was never named. It was hopeful. Like she was out there somewhere. Maybe even looking for me.  I created a Tumblr account while going through my divorce. It helpe...

At the hoary age of 44, I've gained some knowledge and understanding. Which is good. I didn't always have much in my younger years. I'm reading the book of Proverbs during church services (actually more of a Bible study), which I've been holding weekly since December of last year. Proverbs is written to young men, but, naturally, everyone can benefit from reading it. I want my son to soak it up. I wish I had done the same when I was a young man. It would have saved me a ton of heartache. The last 25 years could have been the best of my life. Instead, they were filled with darkness and pain. I realize no one is likely reading this blog anymore. There is nothing I can do about that. This blog is my therapy, so will continue to write as I feel compelled. This post is possibly a counterpoint to my last post. It is logical and biblical.  I apologize in advance (if anyone actually reads here). This post is long and convoluted. It contains things that helped me process major d...

There is beauty in everything, even in endings, autumn reminds us. When we see the colors appear in the leaves, we say their color is changing. We say green is their normal color, but actually green is summer. Their true colors are revealed in fall when the chlorophyll drains away. What we see as a change is actually a revealing. What autumn means is we finally get to see what was under it all. In that way, fall is the most honest of seasons. Perhaps that is why I love it. Yes, it is that time again. Time for my annual ode to fall, my favorite season. I wish it wasn't so short in the Black Hills because the crispness of the air is intoxicating, though a bit unnerving because I know winter is not far away. I start to notice leaves changing in mid-August and by the end of the month, it's all around me. When September comes, the calendar says fall is still weeks away, but I know it's already here. There is a noticeable shift from one season to another, a moment when you realiz...

Can't Buy me love is a f antastic humorous farse, an 80s movie about a nerd who gets to see what it's like to be one of the cool kids. The part that always got me was he somehow got to be with the hottest girl in school, the girl of his dreams, a girl described as not only out of his league but out of everyone's league. Wanna guess her name? Weird question? Her name is Cindy. When I watched this movie when I was in high school, the irony of that fact was lost on me, but it isn't now. I watched this movie so many times, I lost count. I love it.  From Wikipedia:  Can't Buy Me Love  is a 1987 American  teen   romantic comedy  film directed by  Steve Rash , [2]  starring  Patrick Dempsey  and  Amanda Peterson  in a story about a nerd at a high school in  Tucson, Arizona , who gives a cheerleader $1,000 to pretend to be his girlfriend for a month. The film takes its title from a  Beatles  song of the  same title ...