I want to be home. I am on the road teaching my class, “Veterans, Police Officers, and Communities in Crisis: Responding to Trauma,” and as I was hitting the hotel’s elliptical machine I began to reminisce about the 26 years my wife and I have been married. Really, it had…
Category: 4. Family Life
With family, you are not alone and love is never far away.
I’m taking my dear wife on a date today. We are going to drive to a strange place and go exploring. No small feat when you have eight children, ages 4 months to 15! In spite of the obstacles to planning such an excursion, it is important to take time…
I just spoke to a group of first responders from around Michigan this past Saturday at Kalamazoo Community College. The Michigan State Fire Marshall, Kevin Sehlmeyer, and KVCC’s, Marty Meyers, were kind enough to coordinate the event. Both are deeply committed to helping firefighters and all first responders live the…
The Problem A recent Cigna study shows how increasing loneliness in our society – they estimate nearly half of all Americans had feelings of loneliness and isolation – contributes greatly to poor mental and physical health. https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20180504/loneliness-rivals-obesity-smoking-as-health-risk Cigna reports loneliness increasing for a variety of factors including the rise of…
Our Burden’s Odor “It is said that a newly made vessel will preserve for a long time, perhaps permanently, the odor of whatever was poured into it at that time. This can also be said about the atmosphere surrounding children.” St. Theophan the Recluse from The Path to Salvation. I…
A poem for my child? I don’t do that enough. Thankfully, Georgia and I spent some time outside yesterday before I hit the road for a few days of speaking. It was more than I could have expected, she took flight. Over and over she ran down the driveway as…