Carl Sandburg’s line - “Let a joy keep you” - arrests me. A joy keeping us is very different from an anxiety keeping us, or a fear or a jealousy or a rage. A true joy is unmanufactured, grace received, often in still places. Joy is a thin, sturdy thread from heaven to earth.

Whatever ails you, watching a little kid bundled like a miniature Pillsbury Doughboy sled, screaming like a banshee, down a snowy hill — it’s likely to at least help with the cure.

I have my copy. It’s beautiful, of course.

It's incumbent on those with power, even as they attempt to repair things that are broken, to not break more things, and certainly not to break more people.

Lots of young fellas carrying roses today around Hope College. They felt serious, holding those bunches tight, blushing, an extra swagger, the kind of nerves that make you sweat but keep you moving. I'm pulling for ya, fellas. Be gents and put your heart out there.

Wouldn't it be ridiculous if someone pulled a back muscle working their AeroPress for their morning coffee? I mean, what a bozo move that would be, just bonkers. Just thought of that, no reason...

Just to return to bedrock facts. All that would be required for peace — and we could have it today — would be for Russian soldiers to return to Russia.

When I was 8, I grabbed my dad's white Hanes to make a Reagan Bush campaign tee. I was all in, to do good in the world. Ever since, I've grappled with politics, economics & how being a Christian must shape my politics and must always bend toward others. bit.ly/4iq874K

“Ol’ Gary Chapman didn’t list mixing me an evening cocktail as one of the love languages. What a dumdum.” - Miska

The logo’s fine with me. Just don’t mess with the peg game. Or apple butter.