Scouting

 I just finished packing for my trip to Chicago. Yes, it’s in July, but I’m one of those people who needs to think through all eventualities. This is also a new experience. I’ve never traveled for work before, not officially. How many business cards should I pack? How casual should my casual clothes be? Do I need my visual aids (books, I admit it, books) or are they too heavy? Is all of it too heavy? Should I just take two pairs of pants and a few fancy shirts or will I need fresh clothes for the evening? 

Packing everything up helps me make the micro decisions. I’ll need to unpack it all to steam it as most of the things arrived pretty wrinkled, then I will pack it all up again to await being steamed again in the hotel room. It all feels overwhelming and exciting. I’ve always tried to be a good Boy Scout and “be prepared.” I probably take it too far. The more I do the easier my mind is, so today’s successful project will be followed by many more.

The Ticking Clock

July 11, 2026 at 11:00 am I will be presenting a paper about teaching kids the basic principles of mimetic theory. Every thing got very real when I opened the conference schedule. The conference is the Colloquium on Violence and Religion in case you're interested. You can still sign up. If you don't have four days to give in the middle of July you can message me and I can send you my paper.

In any case my life got real with those time coordinates. I've been thinking about pivoting for a long time, but July 11th I'm doing it. I'm advocating for good changes in the world.

Hopefully one thing will lead to another and I'll explore the path of teaching but I have other possible plans—writing, or advocating for the poor or fostering ecumenical relationships. Luckily I kept most of the notes I've scribbled down about possible projects. Who knows where they are, but they engrained themselves in my mind with the act of writing. I am not starting from scratch.

The oyster is the best part of the turkey. It's small and succulent and worth volunteering to carve the bird for. I am hoping the next two decades of my life are my turkey oyster. Freed from raising children I want to get the max out of my life and gifts.it will be a seemingly small part of my life but hopefully it will be the most earnest.