Artificial intelligence writes the first eight paragraphs below as well as the closing prayer By George Valadie Wow, it was a lot! I’m talking about the deep dive I took recently into the world of artificial intelligence (AI). You’d think I was gearing up for a Ph.D. in computer science, …
Our leaders aren’t having a beer anymore
The way we despise the opposition with a depth of vileness cannot help but impact our children By George Valadie It’s a story my wife has recounted countless times. And one for which I have given her grief in equal number. But it comes to mind these days. At the …
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A new school role he didn’t see coming
Serving as diocesan superintendent puts him back with those called by the Master Teacher By George Valadie I didn’t see that coming! A few short weeks ago, I was spending a good bit of my days on the back porch. Sleeping late. Hitting thousands of golf balls at the driving …
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Thank you, Lord. Can we keep him?
A seminarian’s skill with the tetherball crowd hinted at greater things to come By George Valadie I first met the young man on the playground where I was principal. He and the other students were doing battle in a wild and woolly game of tetherball. He was older, though. Bigger. …
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The gift of laughing with your spouse
In 47 years of marriage, he has learned that God’s grace has many forms, including that gift “… And it’s the way that she looks with the rice in her hair” By George Valadie “Eating burnt suppers the whole first year “And asking for seconds to keep her from tearing …
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‘I just hate it when He talks like that’
A columnist hopes Christ’s words leave open room for a comeback when he makes mistakes By George Valadie A confession: the homily wasn’t speaking to me. So, I found myself leafing through the parish bulletin from this church we were visiting before also thumbing through their missalette, looking ahead to …
A child’s sacrament recalls another years ago
A grandson’s first Communion brings back memories and evokes prayers for the youth By George Valadie It was May 1961, so a good many of the details escape me now. But it was when my second-grade classmates and I received our first Holy Communion. It was the third of five …
‘Most everything’s working. It’s all good’
God would love to ‘climb out of bed, survey the universe,’ and think those words to Himself By George Valadie I’m not the weather fanatic my wife is, but I know this much: if our daughter in Little Rock gets hit by something crazy, odds are pretty good Chattanooga is …
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It’s hard being George during Lent
Seeing people doing something for somebody else could be his way to get ‘closer to God’ By George Valadie I just don’t know what I’m going to do,” my wife uttered with a stressful tone of indecision heading downhill toward frustration. “I don’t know whether to wear my jeans or …
Retirement in the Valadie household
Quibbles about ballgames and TV shows aside, there is thankfulness for good health By George Valadie Hey, will you turn the game up?” “2 o’clock, I think.” “What?” “2 p.m. Can’t you hear?” “What?” “What?” “What are you talking about?” “Katy said his game is at 2. Isn’t that what …
Old friends can be new ones again in 2024
This new year, he plans to ‘reach out and touch’ at least one acquaintance from days gone by By George Valadie Happy New Year! Though it’s barely two weeks old, I hope 2024 has already started you well down whatever path you envisioned might lay ahead. There’s certainly no shortage …
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New grandbaby is off to a pretty good start
She hasn’t been born yet but already has family love, saintly love, and God’s love By George Valadie Like many young marrieds in this country, our youngest, Sarah, and her husband, Keith, were living in an apartment but longing for a house. I don’t think I’m revealing any deep financial …