beginnings and growth

  • Clouds, Coffee, and Contentment

    ByAllen Reding

    I began my last day at sea by going out on deck to watch the sun come up over the horizon. The air was thick with a salty mist, and the ship moved ever so gently with the rhythm of the waves. On a clear day, the sunrise can be quite dramatic, a burst of fire-orange spilling across the endless blue. But this morning, the skies were far from clear. Heavy clouds hung low, casting the sea in shades of gray. A break in the wall of clouds allowed the sun to make a radiant cameo appearance before it disappeared … Read more

  • The Servant’s Heart: Gratitude in Action

    ByAllen Reding

    I was going through some photos on my computer and came across a picture I took of Kyle Field from my hotel room across the street. I remember taking it in the weeks before teachers returned to school in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The image stirred a flood of memories. At the time, it felt as if the world was holding its breath. The pandemic showed no signs of slowing, and teachers were bracing for an unprecedented return to classrooms. Uncertainty and fear loomed large. Every day, the news brought stories of otherwise healthy people fighting … Read more