Category Archives: Relationships

On Seeing Michael McCain for the First Time in Twenty-four Years

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Doc Arnett

He finishes parking his carAs I swing into the space beside himIn Don Senor’s parking lot. We trade one-armed man hugsAnd go inside to a booth near the back. It was hard to watch and hard to not see The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged death, faith, grief, loss, old friends, separation, sorrow | Comments Off

Jesus Puts a Smart-Mouthed Woman in Her Proper Place

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Sort of a backwoods retelling of the story of Jesus and the Syrophenician woman. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Humor, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged deliverance, demon, demon possession, healing, heathen, Syrophenician woman, wisdom | Comments Off

Burning the Brush Pile

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Sometimes behavior that seems quite strange–like burning brush on a really hot day in July–makes complete sense when we know why. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Metaphysical Reflection, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged brush pile, burning brush, fire, horses, love, nature, protecting others, protection, strange things, trees, understanding others, wilted leaves | Comments Off

Old Smoke and Cold Coffee

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Doc Arnett

The flavor and smell of a cold cup of strong coffee brings back strong memories of Pap Bazzell. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Family, Farming, Gardening, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Profiles, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged grandfather, hard work, memories, molasses, Pap Bazzell, pipe, pipe smoke, Prince Albert, smoking a pipe, sorghum molasses | Comments Off

Kayaking at Wildcat

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Doc Arnett

It is the first day of July in Western Kentucky but it feels more like October:Beautiful blue skies with a few high white clouds,late afternoon temperature in the 70’s,and humidity remarkably low for this time of year. Two of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Exercise, Family, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Benjamin Arnett, father and sons, Jeremiah Arnett, kayaking, Kentucky Lake, paddling, Wildcat Creek, Wildcat Landing | Comments Off

The Silence of an Entry Home

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Jeremiah has left for a whilelate in a Lord’s Day morning,taking Amos and Isla with him. Misty has taken Miah and tiny Ellisto go over to another daughter-in-law’s house for some professional baby pictures. I am left here alone for … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged emptiness, grief, loss, Poetry, sadness | Comments Off

A 2000 Year Old Question

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Doc Arnett

A modern re-telling of the parable of the Good Samaritan… with a few changes… Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged bigotry, compassion, Good Samaritan, helping, Humor, illegal immigrant, intolerance, mercy, neighbor, prejudice, racism, who is my neighbor? | Comments Off

Restless in Kansas

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Doc Arnett

The beauty of a still night, the ache of chronic pain, and a friend’s cancer diagnosis: all part of this life that I love. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged cancer, cancer treatment, chemo, chemotherapy, chronic pain, insomnia, iris, iris blooms, moon, moonshadows | Comments Off

Good Therapy

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Watching a PT therapist and her client spontaneously pray together after a session reminded me of how blessed we are in this nation. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Exercise, Prayer, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged freedom, freedom of religion, health, physical therapy, praying, rehabilitation, therapist, therapy, torn meniscus | Comments Off

Of Rocks and Ripples

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Doc Arnett

As a kid, I used to be fascinated by the water the ripples would spread across a small pond when I tossed a rock into the water. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged cancer, caring, empathy, impact, life, love, news, pond, ripples | Comments Off