Enjoy the gift of giving to others

Congratulations. If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the Thanksgiving triple threat of undercooked turkey, indigestion and heated family table talk of impeachment. But, aside from a fridge full of leftovers, what do we take away from this holiday? The name itself seems to be a simple answer to a superfluous question. Thanksgiving. It is about …

‘Good to know your enemy’ — Alzheimer’s caregiver urges others to seek education, support

ENID, Okla. — This Thanksgiving, Sheila Gilbert, of Enid, will be making a drive few would want to make. She'll be driving almost three hours to the Claremore Veterans Center, where her husband, David, is one of 5.7 million Americans living with dementia — a number expected to double over the next two decades. The …

For a love that transcends life…

This column originally published on Nov. 22, 2019, one day after a training mishap at Vance Air Force Base claimed the lives of Lt. Col. John “Matt” Kincade, 47, an instructor pilot assigned to the 5th Flying Training Squadron, survived by his wife and two sons, and 2nd Lt. Travis B. Wilkie, 23, a student …

‘Sesame Street,’ Fred Rogers, and regaining the moral courage of our youth

Anyone with a taste for warm fuzzies should be able to get their fill between this week and next. On Wednesday, the community celebrated World Day of Kindness — a day packed with do-gooding all over town. Sunday evening, the “Sesame Street” 50th anniversary will air on PBS, celebrating a half century of helping children …

Be great in the little things. Be great in Love

“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Anyone who ever stood at the water’s edge as a child, throwing rocks with abandon, knows the imagery in that quote, from the Dalai Lama. The problem is, just as the pebble is ignorant …

Blessed are you, the Church Militant

This sermon originally was delivered on Nov. 3, 2019 in observance of the Feast of All Saints, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Who is a saint? As we gather here in a sanctuary named for St. Matthew, that may seem an odd question. Certainly, all the canonized saints are included in this definition …

Tragedy reveals our true nature — but let’s not wait for tragedy

  You don’t have to look far in the news to see tragedy. As humans, we are fascinated with tragedy. Nothing piques the collective interest more than someone else’s suffering. We certainly should learn from tragedy and suffering. But, perhaps our focus should be shifted — or maybe just broadened — to shine light on …

The true meaning of the day after Halloween

For many, today is a day to sort through the sacks of candy the kiddos brought home, perhaps liberate a few of the choicest morsels for Mom and Dad, and set the rest aside to be thrown out sometime around Christmas. But, other than the obvious excuse to eat way too much candy, why do …