At the Intersection of Theology, Nature, and the Arts
"Butterflies are not insects . . . They are self-propelled flowers." -- Robert A. Heinlein Psalm 104:10-24 For the Our Daily Bread devotional guide, Dave Branon writes: "Among God’s creatures, the butterfly is one of the most stunningly beautiful! Its gentle flight, colorful wings, and amazing migratory patterns are traits that make the butterfly a …
The call came in on a Monday. Animal Control folks in Orangeburg, South Carolina had been alerted  - via an anonymous tip – that a female tiger was in distress. They were requesting assistance in the confiscation of the big cat from a private owner in their community. Kathryn Bertok, Curator of Animals at the …
Continue reading "Saving Aria: Finding Sanctuary at the Carolina Tiger Rescue"
Visited the Carolina Tiger Rescue today for my On the Road with Mac and Molly radio show, this blog and the Rubber Hobos book. Lots of stories to share in the coming days! The sanctuary, in Pittsboro, North Carolina, is a true sanctuary not only for tigers but also for binturongs, lions, cougars, bobcats, caracals, …
Years ago, when my husband Gene and I made our first trek across the country in an RV, we were amused and captivated by the antics of the very social, black-tailed prairie dogs whose communities we encountered while hiking near Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. It broke my heart to hear that these little creatures have now …
Each June, the North Carolina Blueberry Festival is held in the tiny town of Burgaw and, each year, the event’s organizers estimate the community’s population jumps from 4,000 to upwards of 30,000. Now I’m no expert at judging crowd sizes but, given the packed in shoulder-to-shoulder nature of yesterday’s fair, I wouldn’t be surprised to …
"The swan, like the soul of the poet, by the dull world is ill understood." -- Heinrich Heine *** “There’s a double beauty whenever a swan swims on a lake with her double thereon." -- Thomas Hood “The stately-sailing swan, Gives out his snowy plumage to the gale; And arching proud his neck, with oary feet …
Continue reading "“The swan, like the soul of the poet, by the dull world is ill understood.”"
As we are visiting family in North Carolina and had friends visiting from up north, we decided to take a day to tour the battleship that carries our host state's name. It took us more than three hours to cover the 729 ft. long, 108 ft. beam, six deck vessel that was built at the …
On October 2, 1950, three kids – Charlie Brown, Patty and Shermy – appeared on the funny pages of seven newspapers. Over the next 50 years plus – via television specials, a Saturday morning cartoon, books, live theater productions, recordings, amusement parks and 17,897 comic strips – these three, along with Snoopy, Woodstock and others …
John 14:15-21; Acts 1:1-11 Right after World War II, a U.S. Army officer and his wife were stationed in that country. Japan had been devastated by the war. The economy was in shambles. Unemployment approached 60%. People came to the army wife’s door daily looking for work. One man said he could do wonders for her …
After ministering to those shaken by the bombings along the route of the Boston Marathon, specially trained therapy dogs have been deployed to help those struggling to recover from the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. The dogs and their handlers are members of the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog team that is headquartered …
Continue reading "Comfort Dogs Bring Comfort and Healing to the Grieving in Boston and Texas"
DFG Hailson 