Category Archives: Living My Life

Secularism 2

Posted on August 12, 2013 by hessd

It came to my mind, as I was reflecting on “secularism”—my son, Doug, remarked in passing that he was a “secularist” and I got to thinking about how good a term that is—that it was an “extent of time” word, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Words | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Secularism 1

Posted on August 10, 2013 by hessd

My son Doug has taken to calling himself a “secularist.”  I think it is the perfect word for him, but he used it very casually in a conversation we were having about something else (the influence of Norman French on … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Fully and Visibly Engaged

Posted on July 12, 2013 by hessd

It has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world.  You are on camera frequently and you have to be visibly responding to what someone else is doing.  Yawning is out; napping is out; checking your watch is … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Borrowing Bette

Posted on July 6, 2013 by hessd

Every metaphor you can think of is deficient in some respect and, regrettably,  that includes the metaphor I am going to use today.  I am going to treat the opportunity I have of living my life with Bette by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Love and Marriage | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Can You Be Too Skeptical?

Posted on June 11, 2013 by hessd

Yes.  You can. I want to refer, down the page a little, to a controversy between medical doctors.  Dr. Andrew Newberg, whom I know only from his recorded lectures, called “The Spiritual Brain” is one; the other is Dr. Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Saving Normal

Posted on May 30, 2013 by hessd

Being “normal” is a little bit of a challenge.  There are several reasons why this is so.  One is that knowing what is “normal” is not always easy.  Then too, being “normal” is not always what one aspires to.  Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Retirement that Sparkles

Posted on May 23, 2013 by hessd

I want to admit, right away before someone reminds me of it, that it is my own retirement I am thinking of.  I know that yours—the one you are currently experiencing or the one you are hoping to experience—will likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Getting in Shape and Staying in Shape

Posted on May 9, 2013 by hessd

So here are a few dumb questions.  Do you have enough fuel?  Are you tall enough?  Do you really think she cares that much about you? I have no wish to pejorate—ordinarily, I would have said “minimize” or something, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, ways of knowing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Unnatural Acts

Posted on April 2, 2013 by hessd

In the war currently being waged about gay rights (are there any?), there are people who say there is nothing at all wrong with homosexuality and people who say there is everything wrong with it.  It almost goes without saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Local Eats

Posted on March 29, 2013 by hessd

During the growing season, from early in the spring until late in the fall, Bette and I get a good deal of the food from Bette’s garden.  Bette’s the principal grower and I am the principal “cook,” if you call … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , | Leave a comment