St. John has rather affectionate and accurate titles for his listeners in the letter we first credit him. “Little children” is found amongst John’s addresses along with “brothers and sisters” and “beloved”. These terms convey a certain fond and compassionate sentiment, even in the midst of John’s stout teaching. The letter is full of robustRead more

In a suburban backyard a boy plays in a plastic pool along with his younger brother while mother looks on. They splash and scream and run around the yard, darting in and out of the water. By noon the pool is three parts water, one part grass. Summer is here and they’re having the timeRead more

Solitude is a blessing with purpose. Retreat is necessary and refreshing, but in excess becomes a denial of our nature that diminishes the soul and starves us of purpose. During the 19th century, naturalist John Muir spent inordinate amounts of time in the wilderness of America’s West and Alaskan coasts. His writing betrays an overly pronouncedRead more