For years, I’ve been hearing gushing, amazing, inspiring testimonials about Image journal’s annual Glen Workshop. My friend Denise has participated as a part of the Seattle Pacific University low-residency MFA program, and has continued to do so since graduating in 2009. I have lost count of the number of times she has encouraged me to come…
The one who has God lacks nothing
I was at a support-raising seminar with our new CCO campus ministry staff last week. I am putting more effort into my own ongoing support raising, now that my #1 benefactor—my dad—is gone. During one portion of the two-day workshop, we were each asked to share Scripture passages that help inform our view of doing…
Sunday on the couch with Charlotte
This is how I spent my Sunday afternoon: on my living room couch, snuggled under an afghan crocheted for me three decades ago by my Aunt Kushie, with a purring, sleeping cat named Charlotte draped over my feet. Today marked my second Sunday back at church since Dad’s funeral, and thankfully, there were fewer tears…
Letting Dad go
This is a slightly edited version of the email message I sent to family and friends this morning, sharing difficult news. Some of you have already heard, but I know this will be a surprise for many of you. I am sad to report that my dad passed away last evening, Friday, December 27, around…
God is with us
A little over a year ago, I was sharing a four-part series of articles about my Dad, chronicling his rise from coal miner’s ninth child to college athlete to NFL rookie to captain of industry. A week and a day ago, my dad had surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. While the surgery was…
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. ―Ralph Waldo Emerson But…
Why I went, and how God showed up
I first heard about the opportunity to travel to Israel with Shoresh Study Tours as part of a CCO delegation almost exactly a year ago. Vince Burens, the CCO’s Executive VP and COO, made the announcement at our annual Summer Institute training event in July 2012, and I think I was among the first to…
Processing the pilgrimage
Since I returned from Israel last week, the most frequent question I’ve been asked about the trip has been, “What was your favorite part?” Close runners-up have been, “What surprised you the most?” and “Did the experience meet your expectations?” You’d think by now I’d have ready answers to these questions. But, as I said…
The Israel Updates
Below are the two messages I sent from Israel to family and friends at home in the States. A quick hello from Israel 19 June 2013, Wednesday, 6:23 PM in Israel (11:23 AM Eastern Standard Time) Hi all! I just returned from our second full day of touring and discovered some rare (if brief) free time…
From Galilee to Jerusalem
It’s a quiet Saturday morning. I’m freshly showered, sipping coffee, relaxing on my living room couch while reading comments that have been left on photos I uploaded to my Facebook page yesterday. I’m not even halfway done with that project. I was going to share a “few” representative pictures for interested friends and family members,…
maegregale.com 