I wanted to see that it was legit. No…I needed to see that it was legit. The trip kicked off with tragedy. As I sat in the Miami airport, CNN broadcasted the story of how three officers were shot and killed in Louisiana. Three more were wounded. On the plane, I sat next to a gay man from Florida who was still in pain over the shootings in Orlando. It seems like we receive reports of evil, corruption, and loss... Read more
Fish Tacos Recipe “The Sneaky Version” Preparation: Step 1: Without telling your children, program a new passcode into their video game console, computer, or iPhone. Wait approximately 15 minutes. When you hear your children yell, “Mom! Dad! My game isn’t working!” give them an I-share-your-concern look, look confusingly at the screen for a moment, and then offer to take them fishing. Step 2: Bring home 3-4 fresh fish and, without revealing the passcode, or that you actually know the... Read more
My son is connected to my wife through strong, natural bonds. Her body kept his alive for two years. For his first nine months, her voice was the soundtrack of his universe, and it will always be a melody of nurture for him. Aidan is fastened to his mother. But that’s not enough. He needs something more. He needs a bond that with me that is equally strong. We may live in a culture that questions the value of having... Read more
One of the common statements I hear today when I talk with grandparents is, “I’m loving this second-chance at parenting.” I’m all for second chances and for grandparents making the most of grand-parenting, but it seems that if we first-chance parents can anticipate the need for a second chance twenty or thirty years down the road, and then use that wisdom to make adjustments today… we could spare ourselves and our families a tremendous amount of pain and loss. Now,... Read more
I’m still smiling. A couple weeks ago, my son Aidan and I were invited on a father-child deer hunt to northern Nebraska. What continues to make me happy is not only the fact that my son shot a giant whitetail, but also the memories of the other three dads with their children. These men worked hard all five days to make sure their children had success in the field, and felt respected and valued during our times back at camp.... Read more
In “Man on the Run,” I wrote, “There’s a song that plays in my head several times a week. I hear this tune in my mind when I’m wrestling, fishing, or reading to my children. It’s Pierce Pettis’s song, ‘You’re Gonna Need This Memory.’ With great melody, Pettis encourages men to pay attention to the memory that, right then and there, is in the making. He sings, ‘I’ve seen baby hands reach out, grab my fingers like a vise, grab... Read more
All men have an inner boy, and many of our inner boys have strong recollections of growing up and getting crushed, silenced, disappointed, and at times, even victimized by our fathers, or by other frail-hearted men. Because of our rough childhoods, many of us would be justified in repeatedly saying, “I was wronged. I deserved better.” We were, and we did. But there’s a risk in telling ourselves over and over again that we are victims—in doing so we create... Read more
I’ve got a fun little thing going with Starbucks – depending on what I’m doing on a particular day, I will answer the question, “Can I get a name for the cup?” with someone else’s name, or a statement. For example, on the way to the first game of the World Series, my cup read, “Gordon.” On Mother’s Day, I bought my wife a drink, and you can see (to the left) what her cup said. Once I make it... Read more
On my honor… I didn’t photoshop or change these pictures in any way. I came home from a hard day (good, but hard), went out to the garden to grab a pepper for dinner, and this is what I got. One cut. One smile. One awesome God. (And, yes… I can appreciate the humor – ‘Pastor Pipher picked a pleasant pepper’. It need not be said again.) Read more
Cedars and Sandhills
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