Yesterday, my son asked, “Is anyone afraid that we are flying to New York tomorrow?” My wife and I looked at each other. She replied, “No, we’ll be fine.” I revised this post on a plane en route to New York. While some of the cabin’s passengers slept, enjoyed movies, or ate, I wrote. Much has changed since 9/11/2001 in the United States, but some terrorist threats remain. Artificial Intelligence thinks for us, religious divisions divide, and conflicts with countries in the Ne

The church should be a safe sacred space. Love and forgiveness are among the core Christian precepts. However, in some instances, church leaders use scripture to justify their agendas and manipulate believers. Netflix’s documentary, Death of the Pastor’s Wife, tells the story of Pastor John-Paul (JP) and First-lady Mica Miller. Episodes depict how Pastor JP preached God and embodied Satan. He delivered sermons in the sanctuary and abused his wife at home. While the couple led

My wife said, “We need to keep our kids off drugs.” Along with encouraging conversations and explaining the importance of positive peers, we made sports part of our strategy. Organized sports activities offer children a healthy alternative to sitting at home, looking at screens, and filling idle time with misusing substances. Beyond the physical and mental health benefits, sports encourage children to build resilience, develop grit, and learn collaboration. By attending pra

All she wanted for her birthday was my undivided attention. Between moving logistics, writing deadlines, training blocks, and parenting responsibilities, my calendar is full. But I had to put everything aside and gift her my presence as this year’s present. My wife turned older and became more beautiful this week. To celebrate, we had lunch at her favorite restaurant and walked around a nearby mall. It wasn’t much, but it’s what she wanted. The time together is what we needed

“I’m a freshman, Dad,” said my son. “Yup, he’s fresh meat!” replied my daughter. Their exchange reminded me of how I used to talk with my sisters. We teased each other out of love. After my son filled his hair with gel and my daughter got dressed, they packed their book bags, and we climbed into the car. On the ride to school, I tried to remember, but forgot what my parents had said to me on my first day of high school. “Surround yourself with positive people, be respectful t

Love is an energizer. Seven hours after returning home from a conference in Baltimore, I drove to Yosemite National Park. With a cup of coffee in my hand and anticipation in my head, my boys and I left for a rite-of-passage experience. We anticipated adventure. A bear encounter, hours of hiking, and an allergic reaction were not on the itinerary. Yet, the unexpected appeared. The roads leading into the National Park have twists, turns, tourists, and reduced speed limit signs.

I am writing this letter to you in the lobby of the Lord Baltimore Hotel. You know, I’m here for a conference. My work with writing and capoeira sent me traveling during your birthday week. Thank you for pausing your skateboarding to participate in the video of our music practice. I will use the footage during my presentation. You have officially become a teenager. This weekend we will celebrate you. From simply being you to earning straight A’s and making the Junior Olympics

“Do you believe life exists on another planet? Is there a parallel universe that we can’t see?” My son asked me these questions as I put shoes on to take him to football/soccer practice. I unlocked the car doors, sat in the driver’s seat, and fastened my seatbelt before I replied. “It’s possible. Much of this world is yet to be discovered by scientists and our current technologies. There are portions of the oceans that we have yet to explore.” The conversation shifted as I pu

Last Saturday, I reconnected with nature. I drove to a forest preserve and almost ran a marathon. While I covered 20 miles around a river and eyed small islands, the Wells case crossed my mind. What do you believe happened to 18-year-old Nolan Wells? The current story seems suspect. He leaves with friends on July 4, sails to Horn Island near Mississippi, and then dies. Wells’s parents, investigators, an attorney, the FBI, and the police are attempting to uncover additional de

Are you as lost as I am in the World Cup? Multiple moments have confused me during several games of what Americans call soccer, and everyone else recognizes as football. We attended a community watch party hosted by a local soccer club for the USA vs. Belgium match. Our friends came, but despite crowd cheers and presidential interferences, the USA team lost. I played basketball, baseball, and American football as a child. Whenever my gym teachers covered the soccer unit in PE

We, the people, will celebrate your 250th birthday tomorrow. Some of us will line the streets and fill public parks with red, white, and blue flags in our hands. Others will mourn, lower their heads, take a knee, and consider hypocrisies in the home of the brave, land of the almost free. Tomorrow is Independence Day, but Frederick Douglass questioned this holiday. Remember, he asked, “What to the slave is your 4th of July?” Ancestor James Earl Jones read Douglass’s speech on

Fifteen years ago, I became a father. Where the time went, I don’t know, but I lost it somewhere between December of 2010 and today. “Cherish these moments. They grow up fast,” said older parents when they witnessed the limitless energy of my babies. I replied with a smile but didn’t recognize their wisdom. My youth convinced me that I had many Father’s Day holidays ahead. With this blog post, I’m asking you to do something I couldn’t do as a younger parent. Listen. I’ve lear

We know half the story of Juneteenth. On June 19th, 1865, emancipation reached enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas. That’s one half of today’s holiday. The other half includes accounts of former enslavers choosing to die by suicide on the day of Jubilee. They couldn’t fathom living without the exploitation of African labor and perceived death as the comfortable alternative. Their decisions indicated the value of African bodies. Masters assessed slaves as priceless. If we co

Perspectives matter. Sometimes a shift in viewpoint is critical. A recent loss tested this theory. Last week, I drove my children to their swim practice, planning to run while they swam. To prepare, I wore running clothes, filled a water bottle, and packed my running pouch. We arrived at the pool, they met their team, and I strolled to a park to warm up. Near the pull-up bar, I placed my car key on a bench, drilled capoeira movements, and completed a set of mountain climbers.

What’s the formula to help your child excel in school? Books + sports + travel + love + prayer = academic prowess. I wish it were that simple. The commitment to fostering academic excellence is a full-time labor-of-love gig without vacations or weekends to recuperate. Responsibilities amplify in single-parent households. Parenting and helping children become scholars involves a combination of resources. During the school day, they need learning experiences with culturally res

This is your year! You graduate from the 8th grade, celebrate another birthday, end another season of soccer, and start high school. Only God knows what will happen in the rest of 2026. I am proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. You’re confident, intelligent, athletic, and handsome. You’ve also finished Mrs. C’s class, earned honor roll status, and attracted a girlfriend. Keep up the solid work! On another note, lately, it’s been hard to predict your mood. One mi

“Two percent of people will choose to take the stairs, when an escalator is also available.” That’s the opening statistic Michael Easton shares on his podcast, “Two Percent.” When we consider our desires for comfort and how AI impacts our lives, the percentage of people opting for escalators makes sense. Artificial Intelligence is here. Open Microsoft Word, and Copilot is there to rewrite. Search online, and Gemini appears. Built within this site and others are options to upl

Dear Student Leader, Is this your year? Will you graduate in May? Whether you choose to pursue a career or additional degrees, learning does not stop when you remove the regalia and join the celebrations. The application of your education to address societal problems is proof of proper schooling. You and your peers hold remedies to voting challenges, wars, and the anti-diversity movement. Thinking, acting, and consistently exploring ways to improve offers viable solutions

Dear Student Leader, During yesterday’s Big Day of Giving, non-profit organizations asked for donations to support programs and services offered throughout Sacramento County. The Giving Edge platform, hosted organizations, collected contributions, and distributed funds. Although the “Big Day” ended, you can continue to give. Contributing to a fundraiser is only one form of giving. Leaders can also give their energy, expertise, and empathy to causes bigger than their egos. Giv

Dear Student Leader, Tuesday started unlike any other day this week. Before my phone’s alarm had the opportunity to wake me, I shot out of bed. Eager to get the day started, I used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and dressed in my running clothes. I completed my morning ritual, started a draft of this post, and warmed up while I waited to take my children to their swim practice. We arrived on time and split our ways. They went into the aquatic center, and I started to jog. On