The thing about fishing is that there is absolutely no way to do it incorrectly. It's human proof. That doesn't mean that a given angler might not catch fish on a given day. Sometimes boat motors don't start. Sometimes bait casters tangle into amazing bird's nests. Favorite lures can become lost in the toothy thrashing …
Cleaning House
Another box, full of seemingly mundane history. My mother saved her papers. All of them. If I forgot which birthday card I bought for her in 1998, I could relive the card-giving now. The process of cleaning out my mother's house went about as expected. I cleaned house once before when my father died. Both …
Map and Compass
"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it". Edmund Burke Edmund Burke, the great conservative thinker, believed that prudence is the first among virtues. He also said that we are dwarves on the shoulders of giants. Burke's conservatism was temperamental and not ideological. He was advising us that almost everything we face is …
Great Theology
I am very fortunate, I must confess. As far as I'm concerned, I've successfully removed any log from my own eye and, of course, kept it out of my eye continuously since. Therefore, I have free reign to remove specks from the eyes of others. How convenient. Thus, I turn to the four writers of …
Stubborn
I believe that just about every personality trait is inherently neutral. Most traits serve us well up to a point. Almost any aspect of our personalities can get us in trouble if taken too far. For instance, industrious can lead to getting a lot done and feeding a family. However, it can also lead to …
Lost in Space
"Danger, Will Robinson". Like the robot from the 1960s television series, I am tempted to shout the same warning about the 2016 Presidential election. However, the warning may actually be a bit premature. Perhaps 2016 is merely the year we finally shed certain political shibboleths like we abandon iconic cultural symbols that seem permanent while …
Of Love and Reason
I'm a lawyer and the son of an engineer. I've always been a thinker and have felt most comfortable in that realm. Yet, as a Christian, I've found a frustration to the limits of my reasoning ability as I grow weary of trying to "figure it all out" in some sensible way. As to reason, …
Of Grouse and Me
The flush of a ruffed grouse can be a rare occurrence much of the time. It's been said that a grouse hunter would starve if grouse were the only food consumed by said hunter because the number and size of the birds reduced to bag falls far short of the calories burned walking through the …
The Existentialism of Ice Fishing
I walk or drive onto questionable ice on a frigid, windy day. I drill a hole in the ice. I put a tiny wax worm on a tiny jig and drop my line through the hole in the ice. I sit on a bucket for hours. I may sip a beverage. It's called ice fishing. …
A Dog’s Guide to Yoga (Guest Post by Max)
1. Yoga done by dogs Roll in poop Lift leg and pee on alpha female's flowers Shake water on master Tangle in leash "Who, me?" gaze Jump in truck Sit on master's foot Point at squirrel Gnaw on bone Shred socks Inhale food Drink from toilet Head on lap Obey commands when food is involved …
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reflections of a flawed man 