21Dec 2025 by CJ
A Childhood Memory Reminds Us to Be Present

A Childhood Memory Reminds Us to Be Present

Life & Living, Youth
Can you recall your earliest childhood memory of your parents? A moment so clear that it lingers in your mind, yet still holds a hint of mystery in the details, given how young you were. Once you reach a certain age, revisiting the past involves sifting through decades of experiences, which are bound to overshadow your earlier memories. Given the extensive work our brains perform at any given moment, it’s not surprising that older, less specific memories can fade away to make room for new ones. I’ve asked this question of other family members and friends before, and I’m often met with confused, uncertain looks, followed by a long pause as the person struggles with a question they’ve probably never been asked. Eventually, the person admits they can’t clearly remember…
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27Oct 2025 by CJ
Violence on the Field is a Lesson Children Shouldn’t be Learning

Violence on the Field is a Lesson Children Shouldn’t be Learning

Youth
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” ― Mahatma Gandhi, The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas It was a beautiful late summer morning, and even though the first day of fall was just around the corner, lingering sunny days and mild temperatures tried to persuade us that it wasn’t the case. My wife and I were attending my thirteen-year-old nephew’s soccer game, something we try to do a few times during the season. While some might find joy in such sporting events, we often feel disheartened by the behaviors we witness on and off the field, which is why we limit regular attendance. Let me explain. We hoped that…
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02Sep 2024 by CJ
Extracurricular Activities May Be Too Much of a Good Thing

Extracurricular Activities May Be Too Much of a Good Thing

Information & Education, Youth
“When it comes to extracurricular activities, many children are getting too much of a good thing.” Carl Honore, best-selling author and journalist. I spent my youth in a modest New Jersey suburb in the 1980s, and if perspective and the passage of time have taught me anything, a great deal has changed since then. At 49 years old, when I compare my formative years to those of children today, I feel like a relic, a dinosaur, an old-timer. Here are a few examples of why. Our phones were hanging on kitchen walls, not buried in our pockets, with a curly cord that cleverly uncoiled, though easily tangled, so you could walk around the house to talk. Cable television was becoming a thing, and to change the channel, you had to…
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09May 2024 by CJ
A Child’s Anxiety May Be Caused By What You’re Saying

A Child’s Anxiety May Be Caused By What You’re Saying

Life & Living, Youth
"As a mom, I could feed my child's anxiety, or I could feed their peace. We set the temperature for our kids." – Beth Moore, President of Living Proof Ministries. This weekend, my wife and I attended a live sporting event near our home, and after its unclimactic conclusion, I found myself somewhat surprised by what I'd just witnessed. My wife and I don't frequent live sporting events, so we're not aware of or accustomed to enthusiastic fans' over-the-top behaviors as they encircle players from the sidelines with a chorus of harsh and negative comments that are hard to ignore. While I understand playing sports requires incredible concentration and the ability to dismiss a chorus of negative comments thrown at you by eager spectators, I'm unsure how players successfully accomplish…
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05Mar 2024 by CJ
Stereotypes Prevent Us from Getting to Know Others

Stereotypes Prevent Us from Getting to Know Others

Life & Living, Youth
"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story." Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Once upon a time, in a land called New Jersey, lived a young boy (that would be me) who struggled to fit in and find acceptance with other young boys his age. I was kind, sensitive, amusing, and highly creative, with a never-ending imagination that always surprised and amazed everyone around me.  Such traits were not befitting of the societal stereotypes adopted and supported when it came to the male gender and their behaviors.  But such traits were only one part of my story. I also enjoyed digging in the dirt behind my parent's garage with a miniature…
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