BECOMING A BRICKLAYER wasn’t a sure thing in my family. When I reflect on my teen years, I’m surprised it ever happened. In fact, the only reason it happened is Dave Schlabach. Let me remind you of my size back then— just in case you don’t … [Read more...] about Dave Schlabach: The Gift of Grit
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Walt Walker: How Not to Quit Your Job
I FIRST MET Walt Walker when I was a junior at Malone College in Canton, Ohio. I was studying to be a teacher, and the requirements for an Ohio Teaching Certificate demanded I do ten weeks of student teaching. When I checked in at the front … [Read more...] about Walt Walker: How Not to Quit Your Job
Pangor Ban: Not Only Humans Have Souls
THERE’S A FAMOUS cat I discovered from history while teaching the film The Secret of Kells to my Sophomore English class. Centuries ago, an obscure monk wrote songs to his cat, whom he named Pangur Bán. The theme song of the film is well worth a … [Read more...] about Pangor Ban: Not Only Humans Have Souls
John Henry Miller: The Art of Harmonizing Life
IT WAS A Saturday afternoon, and the new School Quartet I was helping to create was practicing in the basement of John Henry Miller’s home in Hartville, Ohio. My classmate, Marlin Miller — who would eventually become my best friend — was trying to … [Read more...] about John Henry Miller: The Art of Harmonizing Life
Ada Schlabach: Learning to Party with Ada
IT’S ONE OF the things you experience as a new member of a church — you get invited for dinner. In our case, I quickly turned one of those invitations from our pastor and his wife by inviting them for dinner to our home. We’d do dinner at our home … [Read more...] about Ada Schlabach: Learning to Party with Ada
Memoir: Tent Revivals, Wayward Husbands, and Chicken Dinners
AN OLD JOKE — A born-again Baptist dies and goes to heaven. He is met by St. Peter, who begins to show him the wonders of heaven: water of life, golden streets, personal mansion, a special pew in the heavenly choir. But something odd happens as … [Read more...] about Memoir: Tent Revivals, Wayward Husbands, and Chicken Dinners
