Family Archives - Rich Kirkpatrick

Embrace the Awkward: Create a safe place for tough conversations

Rich KirkpatrickAugust 23, 20220290 views

Subscribe to the audio blog on your favorite podcast app: Subscribe To be human is to be creative Here’s something I’m sure of. Creativity is just another word for being human. One example of this is in how we approach the feeling of being awkward. Awkward is a word that comes from where we get the word backward. It is an opposing force, pushing against the grain. We feel more than annoyed. A powerful challenge to the way our brain is used to thinking ensues, testing our wits and composure. The awkward people we live with I imagine the scene at my dad’s wake where two family members trashed the words of the minister after attending the funeral. One was a white supremacist. The awkwardness was his lack of parenting his children as they said, “Ew, that’s gross” to friends who brought in food for the buffet. The other relative took every…

Ministry, the Trailing Spouse and Seasons in Life

Rich KirkpatrickFebruary 19, 201522362 views

I was introduced to new terminology—trailing spouse. This is the marriage partner that is uprooted from his or her job when their spouse moves for work. They are the individuals whose job or career is secondary to the other’s and willingly break what in some cases may be very rewarding work and relationships.

Sacramental Breakfast: Memories of breakfast with Dad

Rich KirkpatrickJanuary 22, 20150403 views

Memories flood at times when a scent arises–catching you off guard. Bacon does this for me. The sacramental experience of our dad’s Saturday breakfast event unfolds for me. With five boys eager as chicks in a nest to feed, our dad would make from scratch his waffles or pancakes, mountain-piled plates of bacon, and potatoes. At times, he even made his own recipe of brown-sugar syrup. The bacon-fat haze in the house was a welcome sight after delivering the local San Jose Mercury newspapers earlier that morning.

Happy Thanksgiving: 2014

Rich KirkpatrickNovember 27, 20140186 views

I wanted to write a simple note and simply say thank you to my family, friends and fellow sojourners. Blogging for over nine years brought me encounters with many of you who might have never met. These have proven to be life-changing. My thinking has been challenged and my soul enriched by meaningful conversations and personal encounters. Imagine a pub where good friends hang out and discuss important ideas. This is how the journey has proven to unfold for me here on RKblog.com.