When you hear the term ‘chaplain’ what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s depictions in media. Like Father Mulcahy in MASH. I’ve been a chaplain for area police departments for over two decades and here is what I have learned. First I feel great gratitude for the privilege of the role and the amazing experiences I […]
BUGS! Once when I was performing in Oklahoma, I had a close encounter of the worst kind! As I was about to put on my shoe, a huge brown spider crawled out of it! Unplanned contact with the animal world is one of my worst nightmares. Aside from the large, mindless predators who view me exclusively […]
I’ve been writing and speaking about social isolation for years. It’s our most significant health crisis. Finding solutions is challenging. Among the opportunities that people generally dismiss and ignore is participation in organizations and groups, populating our disconnected lives. And one of many opportunities to connect of course is in a faith community. That’s right […]
What do you think when you have momentary memory issues? You know, when a thought is ‘on the tip of your tongue’ but evaporates mid sentence? Do you attribute this lapse to your age or the start of failing capacity? Well, take a breath, step on the brakes and consider what else might be going […]
I was formally diagnosed with ‘severe’ Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder (ADHD) in my seventies! I have coped with the condition without intervention my entire life and career. It has had a price. The clinician remarked that being a comedian and performing I was in an ideal career for managing and coping without formal treatment. […]
I can’t recall which comic said it first, but I remembered his self effacing line about being a professional standup. It was something like ‘I only work an hour a night. So I’m going to work, but I’ll be right back.” And he spoke for all of us in comedy. And for me it was […]
Let’s be honest, this election was nothing like recent, past Presidential contests over my lifetime. Frankly I am alarmed by what we halve done here. For disclosure, I have always been progressive and leaning Democratic. But I was never rigid or rabid. Each time I had a preference for a candidate. I preferred Obama but […]
This day always brings me to the proud memory of my father, after who I am named. A kid from New Jersey he served during World War II in the Army Air Corps. He was a crew member on the infamous B26 Marauder bomber. Due to it’s heavy losses early in the war it was […]
If you’re following the trial in New York against Donald Trump, the headline story is the credibility of Michael Cohen who is testifying against him. With his sordid reputation and history he is being rightfully assailed for his credibility. He has willingly admitted repeated lying and stealing in the past. So it makes his present […]
Friday, May 3, 2024 There are many factors that shape identity, and they can be shaped through both external and internal factors. Society, family, friends, ethnicity, culture, location, media, interests, self-expression, and life experiences are all common factors that shape identity. Psychologist Kenneth Gergen detailed his description of the ‘saturated self’ to describe being overwhelmed […]