Jason
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A Message in a Bottle
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in ReflectionsOn our very first date, Kim and I agreed to live on a lake. As we began the process of getting to know each other, we got talking about our ideal place to live. For some reason, Idaho was mentioned. (When you grow up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by cornfields, almost everywhere…
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My Not-So-Trusty Screwdriver
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in ReflectionsEvery house, condo, or apartment needs a screwdriver. And if it offers the option to switch between a flathead and a Phillips, it’s hard to imagine a tool that’s more useful in a home. I started thinking about useful tools after reading the biography of Mother Angelica and watching a documentary on the life of…
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Two Charcoal Fires
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There was a moment after Jesus’ resurrection, but before He ascended to Heaven, in which he ate breakfast with some of his disciples. It was on the Sea of Tiberius, and once again, Jesus provided some of his expert fishing tips, telling the ragtag crew exactly where to cast their net. The resulting haul of…
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How Many Seeds in a Watermelon?
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in ReflectionsWhat do motivational posters, charismatic preachers, and embroidered pillows have in common? They regularly tell us to count our blessings. If we’re in the midst of a good day, we’d probably admit it would take a long time to count all our blessings. Maybe even longer than it would take to count all the seeds…
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The Skeptic
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in ReflectionsI’ve never been an atheist. But I’ve certainly been a skeptic, especially when it comes to the Catholic Church. I went to Catholic school up to 8th grade before transitioning to a public high school. It gave me a foundation, but I didn’t own my faith. Religion was just another class, like science or math…
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Relics: What Superheroes Leave Behind
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On a visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion about an hour north of Sheboygan, my son Ben and I were marveling at the fact that the chapel had relics of each of the original Apostles (minus Judas, of course). In the Catholic Church, a relic is a fragment of the body…
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Catholic Coffee
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I made it thirty-seven years as a coffee virgin. It may have been our third child that pushed me over. While I’m hardly a connoisseur, I am now a fan. I’ve always been a fan of companies that embrace good design and have a sense of humor. So I was delighted to discover Catholic Coffee,…
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Please & Thank You
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in ReflectionsThe movie Unsung Hero is a true story about a family who lost everything and moved from Australia to the United States in search of opportunity. With six kids and no prospects, the Smallbone family comes together and learns to pray for what they need and give thanks for what they receive. They begin posting…
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Becoming a Professional Giver
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in ReflectionsA professional giver. I’m not sure it’s something anyone aspires to when they are a little kid. A professional athlete or musician? Sure. But a professional giver? Is that even a thing? I first heard the term a few years ago from my mentor, Noah, who was challenging Kim and me to take things to the…
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Horses vs. Hummingbirds
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in ReflectionsOne of the main reasons I wrote the book Must Be Nice is because I compare myself to other people all the time. Social media exacerbates this, but honestly, I don’t need anybody’s help. I compare myself to other speakers, other artists, and authors. Both dead and alive. I compare myself and my house and my yard…