The one principle that surrounds everything else is that of stewardship; that we are the managers of everything that God has given us.

– Larry Burkett

Yesterday I was sitting on the deck enjoying some coffee, the paper and a November Saturday morning.  Less than twenty-four hours earlier, I had given the invocation at a luncheon honoring our Berks County veterans.  Almost 700 people gathered to recognize our veterans and hear a powerful message shared by Fox commentator and former National Guard Officer Pete Hegseth. …

“Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly.
They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.”

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the fall season is the color of the leaves.  Here in the Northeast, from late September through early November, the hues of the landscape burst with countless shades of oranges, yellows and reds.  It’s a process, as the green of summer lingers through mid to late September, or until the evening temperatures begin to drop into the fifties.…

“If life is a gift, then perhaps there’s some virtue 

in getting the most out of it.”

It was the summer of 1965, I had just finished 8th grade and the endless summer called, literally and figuratively.  My grandparents had a home in Ocean City, NJ.  Hence, using de facto logic, so did I!  I couldn’t wait to get down there.  My surfboard was in the garage and this would be the summer that I too searched for the perfect wave. …

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each.”         

-Henry David Thoreau

I love this time of year.  It’s vibrant in so many ways.  For the past week and maybe one more, the colors of the trees will change on a daily basis.  The crisp chill of early morning air will create a frost that covers the lawn and fallen leaves, and the smell of an early morning fire will fill the air. …

“Long friendships are like jewels,
polished over time to become beautiful and enduring.”
 – Celia Brayfield

Like so many others, I spent some time watching the news the morning following the passing of Queen Elizabeth.  One of the stories focused on the many responsibilities to be assumed by Prince William in his new role as the Prince of Wales.  The story contained a clip of a speech delivered by the Prince this past March during a trip to the Caribbean.  While his words were directed to a political reality currently facing Britain, they are no less true in our personal lives – “Relationships evolve, friendships endure.”…