Life

The Man Who Kept the World at Bay

by Shawn March 23, 2012
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The small boy (me) stretches out on a worn sofa next to the man (my dad). He is watching television. The man wraps his arm around the skinny boy, protecting him from the world. In response, the boy asks the man a lot of questions, drowning out the evening news, but the man never shushes [...]

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Mama For a Moment

by Shawn March 22, 2012
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Today’s guest post (minus the lengthy intro) comes to you from the always transparent Tamara Out Loud. Maile and I had the privilege of meeting her and her family a few weeks ago while traveling through Gainesville, Florida, and she’s just as kind and fun in person as she is in her writing. If you’ve [...]

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When a Woman Isn’t Allowed to Run the Race

by Shawn March 21, 2012
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My friend (and blog designer extraordinaire) Jason McCarty posted this picture on his Facebook page a few days ago, and something about it caught my attention. What’s up with the dude in the suit accosting that innocent woman trying to run a race? I had to read the caption. It turns out Kathrine Switzer became [...]

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Palm Trees Can Be Very Convincing (Or the Problem With Comfort)

by Shawn March 20, 2012
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The blue bus relaxes in the shade of tall trees on a small back street in a quiet suburb. A thick electrical cord winds its way to a 30-amp socket, meaning the generator (aka the old man under the bus) can take a rest. A wide tube exits from the innards of the bus and [...]

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The Best Way to Become a Bitter, Angry Person

by Shawn March 17, 2012
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I’ve been thinking a lot about flexibility. Emotional and mental flexibility. The ability to bend under varying pressures without tearing any fibers. Then, like an unexpected flash of lightning on a clear night, I read this by Henri Nouwen (whose spirit has obviously been peeking through the windows of our bus, or the thickly veiled [...]

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The Power of Prayer and an Empty Waste Tank: Our First Month on the Road

by Shawn March 15, 2012
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One month ago we pulled away from my parent’s house in a big blue bus. Everything felt foreign and surreal and very, very exciting, sort of like when I first showed up for junior high looking forward to having my own locker. We drove just under two hours and arrived in Gettysburg unscathed. So began [...]

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One of Life’s Great Deceptions

by Shawn March 12, 2012
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“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” John Steinbeck * * * * * We all struggle to maintain some sense of control over our lives. Some of us attempt this by orchestrating the behavior and activities of our children. Some of us are unhealthy [...]

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