7 Steps for a Good Walk

7 Steps for a Good Walk

The Road goes ever on and on,Down from the door where it began.-J.R.R. Tolkien There are many reasoning for walking, the most obvious being getting from one place to another. Many people also walk for exercise. Though I do walk instead of drive if I'm able to, and I know that walking is good for [...]

The Lost Virtue of Courage in The Lord of the Rings

The Lost Virtue of Courage in The Lord of the Rings

“Courage is found in unlikely places.”Gildor The Fellowship of the Ring Courage is an uncelebrated virtue in our culture. The word “brave” is sometimes applied to people who speak up in opposition of a cultural norm, but much traditionally associated with courage has come to be viewed as vice. What makes a person courageous, that [...]

Friendship: Lessons from Three-Part Rounds

Friendship: Lessons from Three-Part Rounds

              When I was in college, I was practically inseparable from my two roommates. We talked about the most nonsensical and most serious topics, we drank tea, and we played grapefruit-filled pranks on our brothers across campus (it’s a long, glorious story). We loved to sing a cappella and received special joy from a repertoire [...]

First Snow

First Snow

Snow's all right on a fine morning, but I like to be in bed while it's falling- Samwise Gamgee Today was my first real snow day (with accumulation) in two years. I was so excited that I didn't follow Sam's example and enjoy a couple extra hours in bed. This was also the first snow [...]

Worth Waiting For…

Worth Waiting For…

Just being honest, I got to the end of my Thanksgiving break realizing I had practiced very little thankfulness. It was an emotional week, worrying about things I don't have yet or things that have been taken away by COVID. It was a hard battle to reorient my thinking. I want to be present this [...]

Trash and Treasure

Trash and Treasure

I know all too soon the weather will turn cold, nights will be dark and long, and the possibility of quarantine or lockdown looms over our heads. Yesterday, however, the weather was beautiful, the sun was shining, and some beautiful autumn foliage still hung in the trees. I went outside to do some chores and [...]