Reader – I’m not an expert in the areas of science, of the heart or about God. I’m an average guy trying to live a life that pleases God and blesses others. I love to read, to ruminate, to understand the beautiful and frightening world around us. I’ve delved into the inner life with counseling and the outer life by engaging and observing people. I try to put what I’ve learn into my essays.

There’s an old adage that says what you love about your spouse before marriage is the same thing that you’ll eventually hate after getting married. I cringe at the harshness of the word ‘hate’, so would use despise or loathe as slightly more nuanced words. For anyone who’s been married more than a few years,…

Winter in the snowy north elicits a variety of feelings and desires. Love it, hate it, endure it, marvel in it – take your choice. As people age, I’ve observed that many, believers in God or not, let the negatives start to overwrite the positives. And some of the negatives become significant, life coloring, especially…