Ray Materson was a straight “A” student, President of his 6th grade class, and a youthful child looking ahead to a bright future. Then a combination of risk factors both in his family and school peer group, led Ray down a dangerous path where alcohol and drugs became his best friends. Before long, his drug-seeking behavior resulted in a twenty-five… [Continue Reading]
The Trauma of Death…and the Gift of Life
It was just like any other day, arriving home from high school, popping into the kitchen for a snack. The phone rang and I can still hear the words of my best friend’s older brother as if it was yesterday … John, you should sit down. Last night Doug took his life. Let me be clear, Doug was… [Continue Reading]
Life is Transitory
This past Friday I took a rare day off from work and visited Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey in Lafayette, Oregon. This beautiful monastery was built in 1955 and is nestled among green fields in the heart of the wine country. Having never been to a Trappist monastery before, and having had a number… [Continue Reading]