Dallin Malmgren
2019
The stages of my life
Because God always takes the long view. Think of how many events in your life seemed “live or die.” I’m being dramatic—I mean just mattered so intensely at that particular time in your life. Oh my, the crises I’ve gone through (real or imagined, internal or external) and how they shook me up—I once felt […]
2019
Dealing with the ego
I was a huge fan of Game of Thrones. Eight seasons to find out who was going to end up on the Iron Throne—what a concept! If you stopped to reflect, those characters were some of the most egotistical in the history of literature: Joffrey and Cersei and Stannis and, yes, Danerys—all driven by a […]
2019
I believe in You…not so much in me
That is the crux of my spiritual conflict. I get it. Jesus died for me. Believing in Him, I have life everlasting. I have been sealed in Him by the gift of His Holy Spirit. He is here with me right this minute. He offers me living water—the bread of life—abundant living. I see the […]
2019
My Top Ten Tech Benefits
A cold, rainy day—trapped inside—what do we do? Obviously, we turn to our technology. I read a lot about the many pitfalls of technological dependence, but I don’t know anyone who would give their stuff away, which got me to thinking—what good does it do me? Which, because of the way my mind works, led […]
2019
Don’t blame _______
This one goes out to Democrats and Republicans and especially our President, who always seems to find someone else responsible for his discontent. I don’t think he started it, but the blame game seems to be reaching epidemic levels. I’m detecting a human dynamic (meaning, I don’t see it some of the time, I see […]
2019
What I Endorse (the artistic version)
One the one hand, this is totally subjective. I am writing to myself. On the other hand, almost everything I have found enthralling, especially in the realm of the arts, came to me through someone’s recommendation. So what I endorse becomes what I recommend—I would love to share the pleasure and insight and inspiration that […]
2019
Teach me to listen…
This has been my personal struggle…I have never been a very good listener. I get lost in my mind—not a positive trait. My students sometimes had to yell or poke me if I was engaged in something else. I can only talk with my own children, my family and a few friends on the phone, […]
2019
Improving Our Planet
The other night we were hanging out with our granddaughters, preparing dinner. Kallie was out of town and Zack had to work late. Can’t remember how it came up, but I asked Harper what she would say if an angel of God appeared to her and said she could remove one thing from the planet, […]
2019
The Greening of Our Minds
This is a useful subject—one that needs to be promoted. The context is for me, of course, retirement; but the concept should be addressed whatever stage of life you are going through. Your mind is only a part of you. (Definition of you: your mind, body, feelings, will, soul and spirit.) Think of it like […]
2019
What I Endorse
This writing exercise (which I stole from Esquire magazine) always worked well in my Creative Writing classes. I think I know why—it is fun to think about stuff that you like. Of course, I used to do my list with my students, but I no longer remember what I put. This is my list from now. […]
2019
“I am with you always…”
The number one thing that people (including many Christians) don’t get about Christianity is that Jesus is right here, right now. Imagine that! Put Him in the chair next to you, or have him ride shotgun (or in the back, He doesn’t mind), join Him on the back porch, leave room for Him on the […]
2019
My Writing Confession
I was only supposed to teach for five years. After that I was going to be a successful Young Adult author, about one book a year, speaking engagements around the country, maybe a movie deal or two. You know, John Green. That was the dream, and I worked at it—you should see the voluminous notes, […]
2019
The Detritus of Life
I have a confession to make, and it is pretty horrible…some of you should stop reading now. This really happened. Karen and I and her Aunt Faith were staying the night in Fenton, Missouri after spending the whole day moving Faith out of her home. The next day we would fly to Dallas where Faith […]
2019
“Is it fun being you?” … (why I asked that)
I suspect most teachers have certain questions they use as conversation starters (especially on a 1:1 basis). One of mine was: “Can I ask you a personal question?” If they said no or hesitated, I said, “Okay, fine.” Nine times out of ten, those recalcitrant ones would say, “Never mind. What is it?” Most of […]
2019
Ch-ch-ch-changes
Do you even want to change? Yeah, I know about all the self-help books sold every year…but I think telling ourselves we would like to change is spiritual comfort food. And taking itty-bitty steps down that path is dessert. Then you are done. Do you want to change? We all feel like we should, in one […]
2019
Reading revisited
While playing golf, my friend Dan asked what I would do with the rest of my day. After making the “If I have a beer, I will probably take a nap” confession, I said I’d probably work on my blog or read. “Reading never came easy to me, so I don’t read much,” Dan said, […]
2019
Reflections on retirement–then and now
This is a bit of a cheat, but I like it and it’s my blog. You know how Facebook will play like your memory, revisiting things you posted in the past? I posted what follows shortly after I retired. I want to repost it, along with comments on how it looks five years later. (Comments […]
2019
Artfulness
The world needs more art. I realized this as I was watching a film called Eighth Grade awhile back. I wondered what made me appreciate the movie so much. It was a realistic portrait, very much the way kids are (as I remember from teaching and being). And it was uplifting. Certain values were sown […]
2019
Money — the spiritual side
You shall have no other gods before me. What does that mean? That is a spectacularly authoritative command. Almost egotistical. Except it’s not, because God has no ego, and it’s not a command but an invitation. How can you not enthrone the All Powerful who has nothing but unconditional love for you? But He will […]
2019
Handling finances — a perspective
What is the number one source of stress in a marriage? Raise your hand if you said money. Not only do I think you’re right, I think you’re mostly right no matter how much money the couple makes. (Okay, maybe LeBron and Tiger don’t stress about it.) For being such an important factor in a […]
2019
Lies
I still tell them., even though I shouldn’t. I mean, I don’t tell Trump lies, where I make things up, or hyperbolize things from sources that are questionable. And I don’t tell sin lies, like “I was at the gym,” when I come back home from my secret lover’s. (Ha, that’s a laugh) I mostly […]
2019
Sleeplessness — why, Lord?
A disclaimer: I am not that well qualified to write about this. I’m only a mild, almost rare, sufferer of insomnia, and I’m retired! So the pain, the distress, the anxiety is only secondary to me. When you know you need to go to sleep, as soon as possible, and you’re not able to…that stress […]
2019
I Will Be Brave…a meditation on fear
I think fear is evil’s most powerful weapon. Fear pits itself against some of the human spirit’s most benevolent impulses. Fear keeps us from becoming the kind of people we want to be. Fear paralyzes, love flows. There are two types of fear: external and internal. I listed external first because it is the more publicized. […]
2019
The Black Sheep
From Wikipedia: …black sheep is an idiom used to describe an odd or disreputable member of a group, especially within a family…the term has typically been give negative connotations, implying waywardness. I love that term—waywardness. You could ask any of my siblings (one brother, four sisters) and they would tell you I was the black […]
2019
Being Pop Pop (the joy of grandfathering)
That’s me. I consider it one of the major roles in my current life, a role at least 95% great. I am not sure how I got that name—I think Kallie gave it to me. My recollection is that she even consulted with me about it. It stuck. I am now Pop Pop to my […]
2019
The Willow Tree
I became a Christian when I was 26 years old. Since I had virtually no church background and since I had spent my previous young adult years in varying states of dissolution, my conversion demanded a drastic change in lifestyle. I immediately became an initiate of a house church comprised of college students and dropouts […]
2019
To thine own self be gentle
You cannot be judged by status; you cannot be judged by success; you cannot be judged by Facebook friends or neighbors’ opinions; …by your spouse;…by your parents or your children; and you should not be judged by yourself. There’s only one Judge. And, let’s face it, you have been found guilty, and, thank God, you […]
2019
X#%&*@$! (Profanity)
I made a vow to stop cussing when I was 23 years old—not sure why. I hadn’t become a christian at that point—didn’t carry any conscious guilt feelings—certainly had no peer pressure—and I was pretty good at it. I suppose it seemed unnecessary to me. I was reading more at that time and becoming more […]
2019
Sorting out the past
I could be wrong, but it seems like a natural current for my age group. You start to look back. I’m not talking about dwelling or obsessing or recapturing or idealizing or mourning—just reflecting. Even if you are not an adherent, your dreams probably are. At least, mine are. Dylan said, “Anybody who lived through […]
2019
In Praise of Jubal (Music makes the world go round)
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” –Aldous Huxley When I decided to write about music, I asked Aunt Faith what kind of music under what circumstances has had an impact on her life. “None,” she replied. “I don’t listen to music.” I was amazed. We moved a collection of […]