Sean Dietrich Articles

Sean of the South | What is God?

OPINION — What is God? This single question underpins all things on the Camino de Santiago, a trail inhabited by us full-time pilgrims whose lives are contained in backpacks.We pilgrims think about this question as we walk. We ponder this question even as we are...

Sean of the South | A Strawberry Moon

OPINION — The middle of the night. The rural Alabama countryside was lit by the glow of the full moon.In most major U.S. cities, tens of thousands were holding protests and demonstrations. In Washington D.C., throngs lined the streets. In New York and Los Angeles, it...

Sean of the South | The room full of adolescence

OPINION — I was in a hotel with a few hundred Mennonites. I walked into the hotel at noon. At first, I was confused inasmuch as the lobby was full of cape dresses, plain suits and broad-brimmed hats. Some of the older men had beards, some were clean-shaven. The...

Sean of the South | Who is God?

OPINION — The question was simple. “Who is God?” CHRIS (5): He’s a big, big thing, but you can’t see him. He has big hands and he can pick you up and carry you around. And he won’t drop you, not even if you try to jump. He can fly. ANDREA (5): Nobody’s ever seen a...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Apr 14, 2026

OPINION — “Otis!” says the girl working the fast-food drive-thru window. “Gimme a kiss!” I am in my truck, buying hamburgers. The drive-up...

Sean of the South | The Mourning Scroll

Apr 5, 2026

BY SEAN DIETRICH OPINION — Wake up. Start coffeemaker. Turn on TV. A panicky news journalist is saying America is doomed and only minutes away from...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | Easter

Mar 30, 2026

OPINION — A few years ago I attended my first Catholic mass in a busy church outside Birmingham. It was Easter Sunday. I sat in the nosebleed...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | Just hold on

Mar 23, 2026

OPINION — I have here a letter from a young woman who will remain anonymous. “Sean, I’m in a very rough place — the man I love and was supposed to...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | The Gospel according to Charlie

Mar 17, 2026

OPINION —Our shower drain kept getting clogged. It was a big problem. We had to hire a plumber. He came out twice.God love him, the plumber did not...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | The good news they don’t tell you about

Mar 10, 2026

Here is the news that didn’t make the front page this week, but should have: — Researchers have grown tiny organs from stem cells,...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | Signed, sealed, deleted

Mar 3, 2026

OPINION — Don’t shoot the messenger. But in America, one third of children have never handwritten a letter. And it’s not just kids. Nearly 40%...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | Typos

Feb 23, 2026

OPINION —I’d say the biggest problem facing this country is typos. Typos are cropping up everywhere. In advertisements, in emails, and even within...

Sean of the South | A dog and his burger

Sean of the South | The Introduction Room

Feb 17, 2026

OPINION —I used to volunteer at an animal shelter. I loved it.My favorite place in the shelter was called the “Introduction Room.” This was the room...

« Older Entries