We will remember September 11, 2001, and we should.  From thoughtful analysis to social media memes, we are being reminded to remember that day twenty years ago tomorrow.  Young adults will remember their parents’ reactions to something awful and those of us middle age and older will recall exactly where we were when we first heard the news. The memories will be somber.

How will we remember 9/11 and what should we remember about it?

The President’s speech writers were already preparing for a remembrance that would no doubt honor victims and first responders, but which would also be a celebrative occasion for scoring political points.  We assume all first drafts have been shredded.

Among the things I will remember is a community service that same Tuesday evening in September when the pastors and the people of the churches and the town in Beaver, Pennsylvania, gathered for a hastily planned but profoundly moving time of prayers and hymns.  I remember how, having been in front of our television sets all day, we were hesitant to leave the company of friends and strangers. Long after the final benediction, people lingered in hushed conversation on the sidewalks outside the host church. No one wanted to go home.

Three years ago, one of the members of our pastors’ group in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, wondered if we should start planning a service to commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of 9/11.  Back in 2001, they, too, had called the community together for a service of prayer and hymns.  But as we talked, it seemed as if we mostly wanted to celebrate the last time the church had anything to say to its community.  I am no longer in Langhorne or a part of that group, but it looks as if there will be no event. That is probably a good thing. Continue reading →

I don’t play cards much, though just this past week we got out the old UNO deck when our granddaughters spent the day with us.

I don’t play cards much, but I know cards teach us about life.  We learn to keep our cards close to the vest and that we must play the hand we were dealt. We should be on the watch for the person with an ace up the sleeve. We’ve got to be ready for a wildcard and aware that no matter how well we’re doing someone may play the (little t) trump card and end the game.

And, as Kenny Rogers taught us, we got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away.

The granddaughters got the basics of UNO pretty quickly but are still learning the best strategy for when to play the wild Draw Four card.  You don’t want to hold it too long, but neither do you want to use it too soon. Continue reading →

This piece was written prior to yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Kabal, but has not been altered in response to them. 

Last Friday President Biden addressed the nation regarding the situation in Afghanistan as the United States ends its 20-year mission there.  A thousand wiser minds, along with some others, have commented on what the president had to say. I will leave the punditry and the politics to them.

Something the President said, though, has had me thinking all week.  About halfway through his remarks, Mr. Biden said, “Look, let’s put this thing in perspective here. What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point with Al Qaeda gone?”

The “what interest do we have?” question is rhetorical.  The President believes we no longer have an interest in Afghanistan.

To paraphrase one of the President’s predecessors, however, it may depend on what the meaning of “interest” is. Continue reading →

Becky and I are just back from a week with our son’s family at the Air Force base where he is an active-duty chaplain.

Potty training with the three-year old is going well, the six-month old just learned to roll over both ways, and we read “Are  You My Mother?” to the two-year old dozens of times. And the six-, eight-, and eleven-year olds are dong are doing well. Despite the trip to the ER.

In answer to the question, “Was it worth it?” the answer, as always, is “absolutely.”  We help as best we can and love doing it.

But it is not potty training and Lego pirate ships I have in mind in asking the question.

Christopher serves as a chaplain, and while we were visiting, the chapel posted this on its public page: Continue reading →

About a year ago I subscribed to the digital edition of the Washington Post.  I was reading a bit more in retirement and wanted to make sure I was reading a balance of perspectives.  Along with the New York Times, the Post would hold down the establishment-left end of the things.  Besides, they offered me a great deal. $29 for the year which would jump to $100 for the next year, automatically charged to my credit card if I didn’t remember to cancel before the year was up.  They make their money off our bad memories.

As it turns out, my discount subscription to the Post was not the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  I don’t know if it is a Jeff Bezos thing or the Post’s corral of columnists, but the Post and I just didn’t hit it off. The Times is doing a good job of holding down the establishment-left end of my morning read, so I decided I would remember to cancel my Post subscription before I was out $100 for another year. Continue reading →