It was not until I was 55-years old that I began to read the gospels with genuine interest and a true desire to understand the messages contained in them. The story that has gnawed at my brain since that time is the story of the rich young man. It can be found in Mark 10:17, …
Author Archives: tVM
Kayak
With the Kinnickinnic River a short drive from the house and inspired by the thought that I can take my grandchildren on a grand adventure, I acquired a tandem kayak that is easily converted to a solo kayak. Grandson Travis will be the first victim, but we will wait until summer vacation in just a …
Guepard Boxing Club: Helping People Help Themselves
Two weeks ago, we discussed ‘the Education Triangle:’ the student, the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the teacher/school. We noted that very few parents of the 20 children from Guepard Boxing Club who we send to school in Cité Soleil, Haiti have had formal education. The role of the guardian under these circumstances becomes one of encouragement because …
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Education: the Grading Scale
We fund the tuition and other school costs (uniforms, school supplies, etc.) for 20 Guepard Boxing Club (GBCCS) children. The annual cost per student for the 2017/2018 school year is $250 USD, a bargain by U.S. standards, a near impossible dream by Haitian standards where the average annual per capita income is less than $500. …
The Education Triangle
Having raised four children – five when I include my nephew who we were blessed to have in our household for five years – I have much experience with education… education in the home, education in school, and education outside of the home and school. One concept that was firmly set in my mind by …
Angels
In a recent “Listen Well” offering, author, playwright and essayist Margaret Dulaney referenced the Irish mystic, Lorna Byrne. Unfamiliar with Lorna Byrne, I did some research which quickly grabbed my attention. I purchased her first book Angels in My Hair (©2008) and read the 300 pages over two months in small pieces. The ‘about the …
Education: Path to a Better World
Eighteen months ago, Gail Rongen and I embarked on a direct giving program in Haiti. Direct giving is risky business and it requires trust. We accept the risk because we trust the young Haitians we work with. Our choice is valid… Within the poverty and violence of Cité Soleil, a courageous group of young men …
Expressing Love and Joy
We woke up this April morning to a blizzard. It is as beautiful as it is surprising. After walking the dogs for their morning constitutions, I shoveled the driveway and cleared the walkway to the house – more for the dogs than for Mrs. tVM and me, for we have no intentions to use the …
Who Is Your Neighbor?
Who is your neighbor? No, I’m not asking the question from a biblical perspective. I am asking the question from a strictly geographic perspective. Who is the person who lives in the house or perhaps apartment next to your house or apartment? Who is your neighbor? I was born in Gt. Barrington, Massachusetts in 1949. …
The Three Evils of Society
Every third Monday of January – a day close to his birthday – we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Every year since 2013 on that day, I post Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In it, he says, “The time is always ripe to do right.” Powerful words from a powerful man that …