The Chosen

The motley crew left a cloud of dust as they walked down the narrow road donning their tired robes and worn sandals. Leading the pack were the spokesman, his brother, the sons of thunder and the recruiter. Following them a short distance behind were the true Israelite, the skeptic, the tax man, followed by anonymity and humility, while trailing them came the “human caboose” consisting of the terrorist and the betrayer. The leader of the “peloton” walked several yards in front of the pack with all the ease and grace of someone in total control of the situation. Unexpected companions […]

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Walk the Walk; Talk the Talk

The kid had it pretty good. His father was a righteous kind man, and he enjoyed a doting mother and several younger siblings. Despite their lack of riches, the family resided in a friendly neighborhood where the children played on the street and the adults parented by committee. However, he faced a formidable foe in the form of his older brother. No matter what he did or how hard he tried, he could never live up to the standards set by the firstborn. He dreamed of the day that his “nemesis” would leave the household and allow him to become […]

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Last Rights

Commonly known as the Chairman of the Board, Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Big Guy, among others, Frank Sinatra and his melodic voice enthralled millions. His reputation among the ladies was unquestioned given his penchant for romantic songs. Yet, a mostly unnoticed theme weaved his way through the lyrics, that of a man coming to grips with his mortality.  Last Words His friend, “The Summer Wind,” is replaced by the autumn and winter winds. At the end of “That’s Life,” he rolls himself in a big ball and dies. Only vintage wine and short days remain as his romantic exploits, […]

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Home Run

We are told that in order to have a successful and orderly existence it would be best to “touch all bases.” And now, as I am rounding third, my mind keeps insisting on taking periodic trips down memory lane, permitting one final glance at the disasters and triumphs of an interesting life. One undisputed fact is that I have garnered a substantial number of “followers” despite a rather sketchy background and a disturbing lack of tact. Conversely, through it all, I can count on one hand those individuals that have left an indelible mark in my life and without whom […]

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Father Knows Best

“Kids rarely listen to their parents but seldom fail to imitate them.” Those words were on my mind shortly after the completion of our Tuesday night Bible study. That, in turn, shifted my attention to a very talented songwriter, singer and storyteller who left us during his prime. As talented as Harry was, it was difficult for his songs to be played on AM rock stations, since they were mostly stories that expanded beyond the usual 3 to 4-minute recording. They included such hits as “Taxi,” “A Better Place to Be” and “Mr. Tanner.” His most popular recording, released in […]

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Special Delivery

Yes, I played cowboys and Indians as a child; yes, I always wanted to play the first because, reasonably enough, a gun is preferred to a bow. Yes, I shot the Indian many times, who was played by my best friend Raúl. And yes, he always went unscathed during my search and destroy missions, which meant the battle continued for many months until we matured into flipping baseball cards. Yes, I am guilty. But if the truth be told, a cowboy was not my first preference. What I really wanted to be was a pony express rider, but there was […]

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Trials and Tribulations

As someone who today enjoys the limelight, it is interesting how anonymity was my greatest ally during my formative years. Sitting in the middle of the classroom and utilizing the student in front of me as a shield allowed some protection from total disaster…the teacher calling on me!! The mere thought of being singled out and asked to speak was more than I could bear. It made no difference if the correct answer was available; fear took over. The Trial Begins That all came to an abrupt end when I became a federal agent. There were so many exciting aspects […]

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The Final Exam

A few days ago, as I loitered at the gym in an impossible attempt to acquire muscles at this advanced stage of life, an adolescent girl of Asian descent interrupted my pretense to join me in conversation. She had learned that I had taught classes at a local university where she planned to attend and wanted “my take” on the institution. Always amenable to take a break from exercise, we proceeded to converse about the value of education and how it impacts the work ethic and performance of the individual upon graduation.   The chalkboard Jesus used parables to teach […]

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Intentionality and Participation

For a 16-year-old boy nuzzled in such a confined location as Key West, Fla., it was indeed an adventure to travel “all the way” north to Jacksonville during the summer of 1964. Particularly if it involved the “Pony League” Baseball State Tournament where our team was considered one of the favorites. After winning the first game, we were pitted against Fort Myers, a squad we were supposed to handle easily, yet despite my offensive contribution, we were defeated in extra innings. As we awaited in the locker room the next game of the loser’s bracket in a double elimination affair, […]

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