For five weeks this summer, I had the privilege of supervising the work of two IOKDS Learn & Discern interns virtually. Seeing my role as a facilitator of learning for both our organization and the interns, I assisted the interns in focusing their time and effort on projects that help our organization move forward with…
When I first retired from the Air Force and settled back home to my house on the lake, I signed up for the weekly subscription of the Boonville Herald newspaper to get back in touch with what’s happening in the local communities around me. The Boonville Herald newspaper is only published once a week, but…
I am truly honored to share my thoughts and reflections with you today, Patriot’s Day. It is crucial to remember the tragic events that happened on September 11, 2001, but more importantly, to learn from that fateful day. Every year, I try to focus on a theme. This year my article comes from the title…
I love books of all kinds. Like many of you, I read quickly and am always on the hunt for new reads. With our local libraries COVID-closed, I have downloaded library e-books, ordered paperbacks from Amazon, and searched my cupboards and closets for overlooked books. However, I have a “rule” whenever I purchase books for…
This is our new normal in many aspects of our personal and organizational lives. So how is our 134-year old organization that embraces tradition more easily than change going to survive during this COVID year ahead? And if the pandemic continues into 2022, will we find ourselves in a default position of too late to…
I think Chicken Little and I have something in common – at least we do on the days when the news from around the world is relentlessly bad. On those days, it does feel like the sky is falling. I think about the many who have lost employment, who are struggling to pay rent and…
The first time I heard Father Greg Boyle preach at Chautauqua, I knew I was in the presence of someone who “walked the talk”, a man whose life was devoted to offering opportunities for a better life to Los Angeles gang members. He always brought a few former gang members with him who also told…
“Forces Unseen: What Shapes Our Daily Life” is one of the Chautauqua Institution’s 2020 lecture week themes. In thinking about this question, we might all immediately respond, saying the novel viral pandemic is one of the most significant forces shaping our lives in history. It is hard to imagine how something so minute in size…
What does the Learn & Discern summer internship really do? From my perspective as a supervisor of two communication interns, it provides encouraging empowerment to young adults in their personal, spiritual and career development. How does this happen? The foundation for growth is a trusted relationship between IOKDS and the intern with a meaningful commitment…
I love flowers, don’t you? Come Spring, my favorite activity is planting colorful flowers in my yard. As summer progresses, the flowers grow, multiply and turn their sweet faces up to God. Daily I gift my pretties with showers of cool water. They seem to dance with glee at the refreshing drink. Summer, this year,…
Watching birds outside my window is a favorite pasttime. Birds of every color and size joyfully engage in the smorgasborg of seed that is provided for them. They eat the feast harmoniously and come and go at will. Recently, a new species of birds joined the gathering. These birds are loud, voracious eaters and are…
In an attempt to stay sane while waiting for the golf courses to open, John has driven himself crazy trying to assemble a 3,000-piece puzzle. After weeks and weeks of effort, all that remains are the 500 pieces of blue sky. The golf courses have now opened so the blue sky will remain scattered across…
Looking back, I can now see that I had mentors at pivotal points in my career. In both cases these were older, more experienced women, well connected in the community. These were never defined mentor-mentee relationships, rather they were based on a mutual recognition for what we could accomplish together. Although this was in a…
I finally had the opportunity to get outside to do some yard work. To clarify, I’ve been staying home as directed; I’m just getting to my yardwork now because this was the first weekend my yard didn’t still have snow piles! It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as I’m raking the leaves from my…
As this COVID-19 life continues, there is increasing fear arising from worries about possible economic collapse, about the way differing opinions are fracturing communities and about the effects of personal isolation and loneliness. This is a crucible moment. This is a moment of significant trial brought about by all these elements in our lives. Crucible…