Ten miles out the waters were smooth as glass, as if we were sitting on a giant mirror. To say that the water was stretching from sunup to sunset would have been an understatement. Nothing could be seen except water and the sky. The water had no attraction so I found myself straining to catch the exact beginning of day or the ending at night. I thought it would be an easy task without obstructions. But I was unprepared for the beginning of the day. It announced itself in a crescendo of…

We rescued him from a pet store. They told us this white bundle of fur was to be put to sleep if he was not adopted that day. He was about a year old. We discovered we didn’t have to do much training. He just seemed to adapt to us as we adapted to him.

He would only eat his food once he knew, for sure, we were home for the night and eating dinner. As a matter of fact, he wouldn’t even drink water until we got home. We guessed he hated the scolding if he had accident. If scolded he…

Robert requested a devotional book. I sent him a pocket New Testament. In frustration he made a second request, “Don’t send me that stuff. Just send me a devotion book.” In response I sent him a Bible. I heard nothing back …

Tony was on death row awaiting execution. Tony had been back and forth several times to the death chamber. Each of the previous times the execution had been stayed. In his last appeal Tony stood before the audience in a suit and presented his case. This time it…

We arrived at an airport in Scotland and boarded a shuttle to the hotel about five minutes away. Bags in hand we checked in with the attendant at the front desk and asked for directions to our rooms. The young woman replied, "Take a right and go down the hallway to the left. To our frustration, at the end of the hall was a sports bar on the right and locked double doors on the left. One of our party went back to confirm the directions --…

My grandfather must have been a wonderful man. He died when I was two years old, so obviously I never knew him. While growing up I heard stories about how he came to America; was involved in politics; was a police officer and a professional wrestler. There was even a story about grandpa changing the family name because the newspaper continually misspelled it in articles about his wrestling. After a while, I began to feel as if I really did know him. I couldn't,…

We walked the way of Paul to the top of the hill. A guide brought us through a short, narrow entrance. The walls of the path at times touched our front and back at the same time as the ceiling brushed our hair. Areas of the wall were layers of graves bearing names of those who gave their life in defending the faith.



As we traveled deeper the light from the entrance gave way to the hand held touch ahead of us. Bending, stooping, deeper into the mountain the cooler temperature wa…

I stood riveted at the edge of the Canyon. I remember the deep breath I took as I was overcome by its vastness. My eyes were on overdrive trying to take in the array of colors. Then something happened. My senses seemed to shut down and disappointment set in. What was I looking at? I knew it was deep, everyone said it was, but I had no depth perception. I tried to throw a pebble over the edge to give some understanding, but it…

I stood in the ancient cathedral trying to take all in. The tall stained glass windows threw sunbeams to the floors that bounced back up to the painted ceilings depicting God’s attempt to reach man with a touch. On that day the sunbeams gave the same message, appearing as the arm of God reaching into the room to warm us with His presence.



Most visitors were struck by an expected hush in the room, like that expected when entering a huge library. Overcome by the vision, whispers of…

When I was Chaplain at Florida State Prison I had the opportunity to visit the "death chamber". I'll describe it a couple of ways.

As I entered the chamber I felt as if I wore a gown and mask-- was just taking everything in as if thru binoculars or "virtual tour" - you know, there, but not there.

Then a new sensation hit me. I couldn't tell if it was an overwhelming presence of evil or a vacuum, or void, of anything good. It left me frozen.

I guess I could describe it another…

My elderly dad developed throat cancer. A large tumor had attached itself to his voice box which required removal. The result was no voice and an opening in his neck. Later he would learn to gulp air to create a sound that would, in time, be his “new” voice.



Early after the surgery, Dad tried to communicate his needs to the nursing staff. I watched him desperately deal with the only…