The Feast They Cannot Flee by Donavon L Riley Even those who mock the manger and deny the birth find themselves bound to its story, their lights and wreaths, their gifts and feasts, all echoing a joy they cannot name and a truth they cannot escape. — D. +++ At the heart of this season…
In this turning, where cold hands thaw and broken bodies rise, There is a fire kindled not by our own striving, But from the heart of Love, who walked among us, Bearing the weight of both womb and world to bring us home. — D. + This is the month of unbound cheer. The bondsman…
When I reached out to Benchmade’s reps to review a small knife suitable for federal buildings, they introduced me to their Immunity series, which includes the Full, Auto, and Partial Immunity knives, all featuring blade lengths at or under 2.5″. Some critics claim that small-blade knives are just glorified box cutters, but that’s not the…
NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center 2007. NORAD Public Affairs, Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braym. The NORAD Santa Tracker, a beloved holiday tradition, has its roots in the Cold War era. What began as a simple mistake turned into a powerful tool for boosting morale during a time of heightened tensions between the United States and…
By Paul Conway Founder Paul J. Conway’s firefighting heritage runs deep through 3 generations. His father, the late Charles B. Conway, served 34 years with the New Berlin, WI Fire Department (21 of them as Fire Chief). Following his father’s footsteps, Paul extended the family legacy from New Berlin to the Milwaukee, WI Fire Department,…
Moses said to the people, “Do not dread, but stand still, and see the great works of God… The Lord will fight for you, but you must keep still.” (Exodus 14:13-24) Stand still. Not as a stone, not as the dull weight of worry nailed to the earth, but as a mountain stands—rooted yet alive,…
Donovan presenting Stephenson with the Medal of Merit in 1946. Photo courtesy of The Intrepid Society, William Stephenson CC MC DFC, famously known by his codename “Intrepid,” played a pivotal role in the formation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. As a British intelligence officer and the head of the…
Jack Hemingway entered the army as an officer with the military police; but spent most of WWII assigned to the OSS. Photo: Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston. Cropped. Jack Hemingway, born John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway on October 10, 1923, was the first-born child of the legendary American author Ernest Hemingway…
The Eternal Child Does Not Relent by Donavon L Riley G.K. Chesterton once wrote that God “has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” Think of it: not a gray-bearded god slumped on some throne, but a wild and restless youth, scattering stars…
Photo of Cary Grant from the film “North by Northwest” (1959). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Cary Grant, the iconic British-born American actor known for his suave demeanor and classic films, led a life that was far more intriguing than his on-screen roles. Beyond his Hollywood fame, Grant played a significant role in real-life espionage during one of the most tumultuous…