First, I must apologize for my rant yesterday morning. This is no excuse, but twice a week I must take a dose of steroids. Invariably, steroids keep me up for most of the night and put me into an almost manic phase when it comes to my thinking. Words fly into my head at an incredible rate like rabid bats and my fingers want to type those thoughts into a public space. It seems so appropriate at the time, to vent about the things that are gripping my consciousness. Yet, after I’ve napped and return to my more sober self, I have regrets. I am sorry. I will try to do better.

The things I wrote yesterday are things I’ve written about ad nauseum. “Redundancy” doesn’t do it service. I really want to stop with my rants about post-modernism and my personal discontentment with the state of religion in America. There are much better things to talk about now. I will try to stay on the wagon, save some future obscure podcasts.

I’ve been thinking about family this week, for several reasons. We just attended a large family reunion at my in-laws in Minnesota, celebrating my mothers-in-law ‘s 95^th birthday. I looked at that crowd and thought about the heartbreaks over the years, the present challenges that many of them face. Then I thought about the joy their family brings them, and the overwhelming support. Family for most is the safest place. A haven. But for some, I’m sure family doesn’t invoke that notion. I’ve had friends for whom their family was not a good place. A place of abuse and trauma. I am so lucky to have mine.

This weekend we are having a mini family reunion of our own, three of our adult children are here with their significant others. During the chaos, I watched how my grandson—who is living with us for a while—relates to and is being nurtured by his uncles and aunt. Hayden came to live with us for a short while as he was facing some serious difficulties at home. I think it is a healing time for him. Not that his own family couldn’t give him that love, they did, but he just needed a break.

I thank God for family. Living as a hermit (which I have also begun to appreciate) reminds me of the value of family as a place of healing and restoration. I do feel sad for those who don’t have such a rich family clan to draw strength from. Those people are heroes. God bless them.

Mike