Culbert Report

We saw him coming from about 10 yards away, uncontrolled lunges throwing him across the sidewalk, then small steps sending him stumbling into fence and icy overgrowth as we approached, breathing heavy, just having joked about the early winter and its influence on our running speed. “Careful,” I whispered, probably just as much to myself as my two companions. I’d forgotten it was a holiday weekend, or as most Russians joke, just another excuse to drink. The streets' stillness and relative emptiness seemed even more unusual than what we experience most early Saturday mornings and this guy’s drunken gait immediately pushed into my mind the Embassy’s weekend emergency message: “In the past, some rallies celebrating National Unity Day have been marred by violence, including targeting of non-ethnic Russians. In the last week, the U.S. Embassy has received two reports of American citizens being assaulted in what appear to be acts of anti-western/American sentiment.” Probably harmless, I...

It was a remarkable experience. Nuns in habits sharing tents in fields. "Papa Francesco!" chanted at full volume while stampedes of young people followed the Pope-mobile. Endless bushels of tomatoes and paté donated for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for volunteers. Small gatherings of mini-masses constantly taking place all over the city. Sleeping on a gym floor with a hundred of my closest friends. People and flags stretching beyond what the the eye can see. It was an incredible two weeks: meeting young people from all over the world, learning about faith from a different viewpoint, and dialoguing openly and earnestly with believers, seekers, and agnostics alike. Our group of volunteers primarily ran charging stations where people could recharge their phones and other devices. While they waited, we explained that we were official evangelists and our job was to talk to pilgrims about the gospel and to ask them if they had made a decision to fol...

At the time, it tasted like the perfect combination of spicy salsa over scrambled eggs, just the way I liked it. But now, I can see, it's not only enduring 8 ruckus cousins piled on the floor for the summer,  but making their favorite breakfasts for them each day. At the time, it was glimmer of the holiday decorations around the house;  the lantern and lights were always bright, inviting, always welcoming to me. But now, it's a man who fought for the right to celebrate holidays in this country  whatever way we please, and embraces that right. At the time, it was the delight of finding the extra few treats on  Halloween that appeared in my pumpkin and seeing the hand which slipped them in. But now, it's a man who is generous and kind to his children's children. At the time, it was the joy of walking from Holly Hills to have candy with Grandpa after school instead of going home to carrots and apples. But now, it's a man wh...