Tag Archives: philosophy

Ruminations

January 7, 2026 By in observations Tags: , , , , Leave a comment
  1. Do not flee from yourself.
  2. You can’t.
  3. Go to Walden.
  4. Sit in the quiet.
  5. Sit with yourself.
  6. Think.
  7. Reflect.
  8. Examine.
  1. Know yourself or know nothing.
  1. Like Whitman, I longed to sing the Song of Myself.
  1. Practice self-discipline.
  2. Say no to yourself.
  3. Say no to your children.
  4. Then, say no to them again.
  1. A mother’s favoritism breeds contempt.
  2. One is praised, one is scorned.
  3. One is more, one is less.
  4. One is something, one is nothing.
  5. Insidious.
  1. A father’s best words are chosen carefully.
  2. It is better for a father to use an even tone more often than he shouts.
  3. And use more finesse than force – in all matters.
  1. Only apologize if you mean it.
  2. A child can apologize to an adult.
  3. An adult can apologize to a child.
  1. If you have children, you will always be their mother and father. But not always their parent.
  2. Trust in your adult children — even though they don’t do things like you would or how you would like.
  3. Faith in them is faith in yourself.
  4. Let them live their lives.
  1. She is the creator.
  2. She has power over life and death.
  3. Mothers and daughters and sisters and wives: the Revered.
  1. Do not forget the old.
  2. And do not rebuke the old, for they have seen what you have not yet seen.
  3. And do not rebuke the young, for they have seen what you have not yet seen.
  1. The only ones for me are the mad ones, like Kerouac said. Still, those who are ruled by madness should not rule others.
  2. They can keep their seat at the end of the bar.
  3. They can keep their ravings.
  1. I will not fight against my brother and sister in war.
  2. I will not take up arms against them.
  3. And if they raise arms against me?
  4. I will walk with the ghost of John Lewis.
  5. I will confound them.
  6. And if they try to take me?
  7. I will escape to the reservation.
  8. I will ride with the Indian Nation.
  9. Like the colonists who fled the colonists before.
  1. I will stand up against evil rulers.
  2. In self defense.
  3. In the defense of others.
  4. The tyrants will fear me.
  5. The oligarchs will run from me.
  6. They will tremble at my war cry.
  1. Individual rights and freedoms are the foundation of a republic.
  2. Do not let your rulers take them from you.
  1. Congress does the bidding of the elite.
  1. The Court is out of order.
  1. Resist and revolt against a police state.
  2. Yet, do not abolish the police.
  1. Revere the one who serves their country, revere the soldier.
  2. Do not desecrate them — in life or in death.
  1. The disappeared are my brothers and sisters.
  1. The immigrant is my ancestor and my friend.
  1. Do not forget the prisoner.
  2. You are not as far from him as you think.
  1. Do not lie.
  2. Tell the truth more than you lie.
  1. Work hard.
  1. An educated populace is a good thing.
  1. Seek the common good.
  2. The bourgeois do not know the common man — they do not know the proletariat. Though they try to talk like him.
  3. The hearts of the elite are callous.
  4. The hands of the common are calloused.
  1. Do not hoard wealth.
  1. he is evil.
  2. he hates love
  3. and despises kindness.
  4. he hates our children
  5. and our grandchildren.
  6. he robs them of their futures.
  7. the wolf in wolf’s clothing.
  8. run from the eye of Sauron
  9. and flee from the voice of Saruman.
  1. Do not trust President Snow — he is a madman.
  1. Who is more evil? The evil doer or the one who blesses him?
  1. Turn your back on wickedness.
  2. Abide in what is Good.
  1. When reparations are needed, pay them.
  2. Do not act as if something didn’t happen when it did.
  3. Do not pretend or make believe.
  4. It is the greatest insult to injury.
  5. Instead, do what is right.
  1. Do not be so closed off that you lose your sense of justice.
  2. Do not be so so open that you lose your sense of reason.
  3. The middle way is the best way.
  4. Moderation.
  5. Centered.
  6. Balanced.
  7. Steady.
  8. Sure.
  1. News is better boring.
  1. Beware the fox.
  1. Discern between fact and opinion.
  2. Discern between what is true and what is false.
  3. Discern between what is right and what is wrong.
  1. Do not sell out.
  1. The Christian rebukes the unchurched for their savage rites and rituals — but regularly partakes in the body and blood of Christ.
  1. The religion of Romero and Bonhoeffer is the one I follow.
  1. Do not follow the extremist.
  1. When your presence is needed, show up.
  2. When your voice is needed, speak up.
  1. Treat others with basic human dignity.
  1. Only expect what is reasonable of others.
  1. The widow is my friend.
  2. The orphan is my kin.
  1. I am a nomad.
  1. I am broken.
  2. I am blessed.
  3. I am savage.
  4. I am sweet.
  1. If you need to cry, then cry.
  2. If you need to laugh, then laugh.
  3. If you need to dance, then dance.
  1. Grief returns every season.
  2. Grief is a thief. It robs you of time. It robs you of life.
  3. Do not run from grief, but do not wallow in it either.
  4. Do not hoard grief.
  1. Shitty shit happens. Lean on your true friends during those times.
  1. If you lose your mind — reach out — and ask someone to help you find it.
  1. Take time to rest.
  1. Make more love.

kt

July 10, 2014 By in observations Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

i’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of different kinds of people throughout my career herding cats…some good and some bad–but, my good friend, kt, was…hands down…one of the best youth workers i ever worked with…kt is short for katie (christensen)…

we connected at luther heights bible camp in the summer of 1995 and worked closely together for four summers there…at the time, she was the camp program director (the position directly under the camp pastor–who you all know now as big e)…some of my best memories from camp surround the times when big e, kt and i worked together during those days…especially so, in the springs/summers of 1997 and 1998 when kt and i had the chance to work closely with big e in 1) preparing/planning for the upcoming summer programs and 2) sharing responsibility for some key parts of staff training (during this time new/returning staff members would participate in a 2-week training…where they were schooled in the fine art of camp counseling…

reflecting back, i think that the time was so special was because we were all on the same page–we all had similar passions, work styles/ethics, faith perspectives…and importantly…we all had the same philosophy and approach about working with kids…what it meant for us…and ultimately, what it could mean for campers for the summer and beyond…

one year, before staff training began, we actually wrote down our philosophy about working with kids–it was something that we also passed on to the counseling staff during training and something we tried to live out during the summers…it’s even something that i think about in my work with kids today…

here’s what we put down on paper:

camp counselor philosophy and focus

1 – put the KIDS first

  • keep it safe (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) , keep it fun (kids will be bored sometimes and that’s o.k.–but, do what you can to keep a positive attitude–for you and for the kids you work with), and don’t forget God (there’s something more going on here than just what you’re doing)

[safe, fun, and God were dubbed the big three]

2 – be a POSITIVE role model

  • lead by example–children/youth remember more of what you do and less of what you say
  • play the ‘put up game’ vs. the put down game (westering, 1990)–affirm, appreciate, compliment and encourage their legitimate achievements and victories…do not give empty praise…

i know that kt still uses this philosophy and focus in her work with youth and families as a congregational minister today–more importantly, it is something that emanates from her…if you’re around her, you can’t help but feel it–her enthusiasm, her commitment, her faith, her love for youth and families…it is unstoppable and contagious…because it’s the real thing…let me put it this way, she has been doing this kind of work in churches for nearly 20 years–and she’s still fired-up about it–that’s not something you see every day!

so, if you’re a parent or teenager or child…and you’re looking for a high quality church youth and family program…and you happen to live up near Alexandria, MN…you should check out the church she just started working at (calvary lutheran) as the director of congregational ministry for youth and families…introduce yourself and have your kids meet her…you’ll see what i’m talking about…furthermore, if you’re a wannabe youth worker…it would do you well to intern with her there, to walk alongside her for a while…she will school you…and you’ll be better for it…

because when it comes to church youth workers…she’s the best of the best…

cheers, my friend!