In previous essays, I have written about the importance of social cohesion and how shared experiences can bring communities together. Few events demonstrated this more powerfully than September 11, 2001. While the attacks exposed vulnerabilities in both the United States and the global community, they also fostered a remarkable sense of unity among ordinary people. […]

A few weeks ago, my wife and I took a trip with our daughter to a lake in northern Wisconsin. We were joined by my parents, my niece and nephew, as well as my sister and her boyfriend. A couple days into the trip, my wife received news of the earthquake that struck Colombia. My wife

In the wake of my Independence Day revelations, I remembered that in a previous essay,“A Spiritual Foundation for Worldly Challenges,” I mentioned that I would revisit the shift in loyalty among most Americans from their state to the country at large. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the controversies surrounding the 2020 election, many Americans have

July 4th, 2026 was a unique celebration of the founding of the United States—not only because it was the country’s 250th anniversary, but because, for the first time in my life, I am equipped with the mindset and wisdom to view the celebration from multiple perspectives and from an emotionally neutral position. While it is

With the recent birth of my daughter and the self-reflection that followed, I began to consider the responsibilities of parenthood. For the first time in my life, I am responsible for another human. This includes making decisions for her well-being, but also sharing knowledge and wisdom to guide her. Much of my meditation on this

As the warmer weather approaches and we move into boating season, preparations for summer begin. For me, a major part of this process is checking my boat for any necessary maintenance or repairs. While working on this task, I began to think about the role of the Mississippi River in the culture and history of

Nicolas Maduro’s capture definitely shook the relationship between the United States and Latin America.  However, one Latin American country has always had a complex relationship with the United States: Mexico.  Sharing a substantial border, both countries have a history of territorial disputes and economic interdependence.  Not unlike Colombia and Cuba, Mexico’s relationship with the U.S.

Shortly after Nicolas Maduro’s capture shook relations between the United States and Venezuela, another Latin American country became the focus of the U.S. government: Colombia. Because of its border with Venezuela, guerilla movements, and cocaine production, Colombia has drawn criticism from the U.S. government. This hit particularly close to home because my wife is from

Following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, the relationship between the United States and Latin America shifted tremendously. At the forefront of this shift is Cuba due to its close relationship with Venezuela and their shared animosity with the United States. As someone who has travelled to Cuba, I thought it would be a good opportunity

Every year my family takes a trip to Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park.  This year we had some new guests including my wife and my sister’s boyfriend.  While discussing the history of Voyageurs National Park, I began to think about the relationship between the area and humans.  From the Indigenous peoples who inhabited the