Twenty-five years ago my wife was in hard labor, struggling to bring our son into the world. He wasn't coming easily enough, so after a very long day the doctor performed an emergency Caesarean section. I was able to be with my wife in the OR, and as I watched, our son was brought into the outside world. After a brief cleaning and assessment by the staff, I was handed a … [Read more...] about A Milestone Achieved
Short-Form Content
The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Guidelines as a Way of Life
The last few years, I've been part of a life-giving Meetup community whose purpose is "to build community around meaningful conversation through the cross-fertilization of ideas." It was Pub Theology when I first began attending, then was rebranded as Pub Philosophy after being handed the reins. These days I'm no longer in a leadership position because of our family's return to … [Read more...] about The R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Guidelines as a Way of Life
One Scientist’s First-Hand Reflections from a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
I am a scientist and, let me tell you, it is hard work saving the world. A couple weeks ago, the clinic where I work dosed the first person in the world with a new coronavirus vaccine one-year trial. Our whole team put in a major effort treating 59 more trial participants that first week, 44 of which my assistant and I spent hours apiece isolating their white blood cells for … [Read more...] about One Scientist’s First-Hand Reflections from a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
No Longer United: The Slow Descent of the United States of America
Recent events in the United States of America have prompted a great deal of reflection upon the whole notion of being united. Merriam-Webster defines united as "made one: COMBINED; relating to or produced by joint action; being in agreement: HARMONIOUS.” One ancient spiritual text teaches that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Pit race … [Read more...] about No Longer United: The Slow Descent of the United States of America
The Exorbitant Cost of War: A Son’s Reflection on His Father’s Passing
I got that phone call no one ever wants; yet, I had been expecting it for a while. The police found my father dead in his home when they stopped by for a wellness check requested by his neighbor. He had passed of a stroke on the couch and it was at least two weeks before they found him. I hadn't talked with or seen him for about eight years. Dad suffered from clinical … [Read more...] about The Exorbitant Cost of War: A Son’s Reflection on His Father’s Passing
