Carving soap and meeting neighbors Our church throws a block party by Ken Rummer Last Friday I coached soap carving. Our church (http://www.ankenypcusa.org) was throwing an outdoor block party for our neighborhood — hot dogs, a bounce castle, donuts made to order, even a fire truck. One of our neighbors offered to play guitar and… Read more »
July 2, 2021
Sightings
Carving soap and meeting neighbors Our church throws a block party by Ken Rummer Last Friday I coached soap carving. Our church (http://www.ankenypcusa.org) was throwing an outdoor block party for our neighborhood — hot dogs, a bounce castle, donuts made to order, even a fire truck. One of our neighbors offered to play guitar and… Read more »
Face to face with all my stuff: Lazarus, Scrooge, and the Inventory Project by Ken Rummer What would it cost to buy it all back? Early in the pandemic, my wife and I undertook an inventory with the help of a computer program. We entered our possessions, room by room, with photos and a few… 
The mulligan (not a sweater, not a stew) A duffer finds grace in golf by Ken Rummer My tee shot gained altitude, a rare outcome and hopeful. But then it started to curve, bending more and more to the left. This was during the decade of my life when I played a little golf. The… 
Grief beyond words A few notes for Good Friday by Ken Rummer From the musical “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.” A young man in a high-collared jacket is singing. I’ve channel-clicked into the middle of a replay of the 25th anniversary presentation of Les Miserables. (Is that Nick Jonas singing?) At this… 
Rethinking winter Finding joy in a harsh season by Ken Rummer No walk this morning. The overnight temp touched -18℉ with wind chills in the 30s below zero. Brrrr. I hear that pond ice is now thickening by an inch a day. Ancient poetry from the book of Job captures the season: From its chamber… 
Looking for the new in a new year Of calendars and hope and new snow by Ken Rummer Happy New Year, everybody! Or, as we sing along with José Feliciano in “Feliz Navidad,” his fifty-year holiday hit: Próspero año y felicidad (A prosperous and happy new year). Despite the crises and disasters of the year… 
Looking for signs of hope: Maple buds and brimming cups by Ken Rummer Look for signs of hope. The teachers of resilience offer this wisdom to the storm-tossed, the overwhelmed, the anxious. You may be way ahead of me here, but it’s advice I’m trying to take. A couple of weeks ago—it was on a… 
To speak a blessing A vision and an invitation by Ken Rummer The walking path leads me along the edge of a wooded draw. Glancing down through the shadows of the trees, I notice a bright flash of light. With a turn-aside and a second look, I see that the creek has managed to pull… 
What’s getting me through these days Three tested tactics by Ken Rummer I’m a small child in a crib, struggling to breathe in the night, clogged up with what will turn out to be allergies and asthma. My crying rouses my parents who take turns responding. Being picked up and held vertically helps. I can…