The journey I took through Afghanistan was an extrapolation of a miniscule route on the vast map of the country I'd had the opportunity to peer at from time to time. Traveling by road makes one appreciate the delineations between geographic regions, as they gradually adjust from one scenic environment to another. The mountainous deserts we had ( Read more... )

For those interested, I recently had an article featured on beliefnet.com for Veteran's Day. The layout and editing was done by Holly Rossi and averseortwo

Healing Lessons from a War Zone

There is a stillness here. A feeling of serenity in a place where rarely it ever strayed. As I walk through the frigid night air on a massive base, a "city on a hill," I am reminded that there are places of respite, oasis in this desert world, that hold a chance for me to rejuvenate from all the weary days before, and prepare for all the ones to ( Read more... )

I crawled into the back of the enormous armored steed at o-dark-thirty (military lingo for too freakin' early in the morning), and squeezed myself between the bags of gear and ammunition. I strapped on the headset, listened to the garbled chatter of the radios while the other guys climbed in the truck and we headed off in to the convoy. A long ( Read more... )

I am a nomad ( Read more... )

There have been times in my life where I didn't think it could get any worse. I hit rock bottom, was depressed, and feeling sorry for myself. Despite how minor the obstacles may have been in the grand scheme, or when paired with the more severe trials that others may face, they were insurmountable in my mind. They were vicious enough to keep me ( Read more... )

Like a paradox of day and night, Yin and Yang, life out here is very much a measure of extremes ( Read more... )

I'm tired, I'm up late, and I'm trying to make use of my time for my personal life, which is woefully neglected due to my obligations in my work life. I'm thankful my family understands why I can't write them back, but it would be therapeutic if I was able to. Therapy for the day that's been ( Read more... )

A wonderful, beautiful man, a father and husband, a medic and a soldier, succumbed to the illness inside of him not long ago. It was something created by the horror of his experiences, something that he was unable to overcome. Something that can come only of the visions of war that haunted his psyche, his dreams, his waking life through every hour ( Read more... )

Well, being a while since my last post, I suppose another cascade is in order ( Read more... )