Friday Fragments

A Gentleman’s Cut

January 24, 2025

“Looks good,” I said, as Viet, my barber, held up the mirror behind my head. It was my standard response after a haircut, but in this case, it wasn’t so much about how I felt about my hairline, my expanding bald spot, or the retreating hair on my neckline. Those were issues beyond his control. […]

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A Platform to Steward. A Prayer to Offer.

January 17, 2025

The moment was July 18, 1957, at Madison Square Garden, during a Billy Graham Crusade. At a pivotal point in the program, the platform was entrusted to the vision and voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly 68 years ago, yet his words remain timeless—amplified then, and now echoed through the megaphone of history. […]

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A Recipe for Failure

January 10, 2025

It was the spring of 2021 when I took my first online baking class with Sara Ward. My daughter, Alli, was by my side, as we watched Sara from her kitchen in England guide us through the creation of a loaf of yeast-based bread. That sparked something in me that I will be forever grateful […]

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First Responders

December 20, 2024

Madison, Wisconsin. Another tragedy. Another unthinkable act of evil. Our heart aches. Lives taken, futures impacted, the poison of hatred unleashed. Into the chaotic mix, into the swirl of uncertainty, first responders were asked to engage. They entered danger on purpose. We hear the stories frequently. As a civilian, I often take safety and security […]

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The Man Behind the Curtain

December 13, 2024

Handel’s Messiah. The masterpiece. The classic. The timeless wonder of musical art. The Mona Lisa for our ears. As is often the case, there is a story behind the story, and that is profoundly true for this brilliant piece of music. Obviously, Handel was a vital part of the creation of this work, but his […]

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Osteria Acquacheta

December 6, 2024

In a tiny, unassuming storefront in Montepulciano, Italy, a meal was served that Mary and I relished. Even now, nearly eight weeks after the event. Dinner was served in two shifts at Osteria Acquacheta. The first seating at 7:30PM, the second at 9:30PM. Fortunately, we were able to secure a spot in the earlier dinner […]

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Lessons in the Dolomites

November 22, 2024

Soon after Mary and I began to plan our 2024 October adventure in Italy, we penciled in a detour to the northeast corner of the country to visit the Dolomites. This portion of the Alps is a stunningly rugged and picturesque section of the country. So, at the beginning of 2024 we reserved a hotel […]

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Mura Di Lucca

November 15, 2024

The Walls of Lucca. During the month of October, Mary and I had the opportunity to travel to Italy. It’s something that for years we have saved for, dreamed about, and planned. Part of our journey included time in the Italian town of Lucca. Lucca is located in Tuscany, and consequently has many of the […]

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Incarcerated – Revisited – Epilogue

November 8, 2024

In May of 2019 I embarked on a journey that profoundly and deeply impacted me. In the years since then, I’ve spoken often about this experience. As such, it seems appropriate to revisit the experience in the next few editions of the Fragment. I trust that this story impacts you in a fresh way… For […]

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