frdavid11

Enter Into Grief and Be Light

Whether it’s the way things used to be or the way things are now or some combination thereof, all of us have some vision of the way things ought to be. It’s a vision to which we attach much value, often investing significant emotional capital in it. And because of our investment we become farContinue reading “Enter Into Grief and Be Light”

Every Head a Billboard

Living overseas I tend to be out of the loop when it comes to U.S. professional sports news, sports opinion in particular, which may be why I haven’t heard about the latest MLB money grab: selling ad space on their players’ heads. Uniforms have already caused a lot of controversy this season, and it wasContinue reading “Every Head a Billboard”

Time to Shake Off the Cobwebs

It has been quite some time since I posted anything here on my blog, and though I feel a little built guilty about that, the principal reason mitigates that feeling significantly: We’ve had guests and travelled extensively over the Summer. Our preoccupation with hosting and with planning and executing our trips—including a long, significant tripContinue reading “Time to Shake Off the Cobwebs”

Offer Your Hammer to God

It is often said that if the only tool you have is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail. And, as anyone who has tried to drive a crosshead screw with a flathead screwdriver can attest, you may get the job done, but the result won’t be pretty – or easy. Though allContinue reading “Offer Your Hammer to God”

Eureka!

I took up a new hobby this year. Prompted by men I umpire baseball with, and seeing that there was a need for it here in Naples, I started officiating basketball games. The season took me to the US Navy Air Base on Sicily twice, once over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. SinceContinue reading “Eureka!”

Alpine Adventure

When we were stationed overseas for the first time, in Okinawa, Nora and I started a new family tradition. We used the money we might otherwise spend on gifts and used it to take the family on a nice vacation trip. The day after the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and SaviorContinue reading “Alpine Adventure”

Happy Fathers (of the Church) Day

In a remarkable and wonderful coincidence, we celebrate the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council on Father’s Day. This also happens to be the feast day St. Tychon of Amathus, whose relationship with his father was close, formative, and—in at least on case—miraculous.Young Tychon’s father was a baker in Cyprus, who charged his son withContinue reading “Happy Fathers (of the Church) Day”

How the Babe Broke Baseball

New York Yankee Aaron Judge now holds the American League record for home runs hit in a single season with 62. (Some might also say that he is the only legitimate holder of the MLB record, given the other records’ holders being tainted by steroids, but we’ll leave that for another time.) Without dispute heContinue reading “How the Babe Broke Baseball”

Service Isn’t Optional

The first time I tried driving off-road solo, I got stuck. The Dodge I still drive has its oil filter at the bottom of the engine in front of the oil pan in an exposed place, so I had to be careful about straddling rock formations. However, I had already done some rather technical drivingContinue reading “Service Isn’t Optional”

Be Not Afraid

Of the many songs that have stuck with me since my childhood, one is from a Salvation Army Musical titled Glory. The song is called “The Name of Jesus,” and I think of it sometimes when I read Orthodox teaching about the Jesus prayer, because the song’s lyrics mention that “the powers of darkness inContinue reading “Be Not Afraid”