Sean Dietrich
Columnist
Sean is a writer for The Observer
Sean Dietrich's Latest
Questions OPINION — I receive a lot of questions. They come in the form of emails, private messages, subpoenas, etc. I cannot answer them all, but I am able to answer a few.Q: Sean, I am moderately offended. You mentioned the ongoing debate over...
The challenge of the unexpected OPINIONGenealogy mattered to Matthew. So he began his gospel by tracing Jesus’ ancestors from Abraham to Joseph, thus proving Jesus Christ to be both the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. As the son of Abraham, he...
Santa OPINION — I almost didn’t write this because I swore I’d never tell anyone what I’m about to tell you. But I have to.A few weeks ago I received a letter postmarked from Nunavut, Canada. An invitation said that I had been selected along with a...
A man I wish I had known If I were to name ten people I wish I had known, Carl Sandburg’s name would be on my list. I would love to have sat on the porch of his Blue Ridge Mountain home and talked to him about his life and his poetry.Years ago Dean...
This I know OPINION —This story was told to me by a friend. A retired nurse.The nurse was passing by room 202 in the pediatric oncology wing. It was late. The hospital was decorated for Chrimstmas. Tinsel on the walls. Construction-paper chain-link...
Staying Power OPINION — Staying power, the courage to persevere, to stay the course. Some have it; some don’t. Difficulties, failures or opposition cause some to throw in the towel. Some cannot handle criticism; they wilt under the censure of...
His love means nothing to me OPINION — I love a good story and the best stories have a happy ending. I like it when the big bad wolf loses and the three little pigs win. I cheer for the tortoise when he beats the hare to the finish line.The...
First Dates OPINION — One of the first official dates with my wife took place at her parents’ house. That night, her extremely nosy parents promised not to eavesdrop, nor bother us, nor hide behind the sofa and wait for us to kiss.Her parents...
A few words fitly spoken OPINION — The scene before me remains etched in my mind. I had walked into a huge ballroom in a hotel in Dallas, Texas, 15 minutes late. Five hundred people were already seated at tables, and I had no idea where to find a...
Finding peace in my 'Remember Room' OPINION — When I turned 70 and retired from fulltime ministry, I found time to read books that I had little time to peruse while serving as a pastor. One of the authors I enjoyed was Frederick Buechner and his...
American Way OPINION — I was a kid. My father and I walked into the filling station. The bell above the door dinged.Daddy was filthy from working under a car. He was always working under cars. He came from a generation of men who were born with...
Who's that knocking on the door OPINION — Comer Woodall was at the controls the first time I flew in an airplane. A young and popular Methodist preacher, Comer was preaching in a youth revival in Wetumpka during the summer of 1950. He was a pilot...
Veterans Day OPINION — Boaz is a town about as big as your average water heater closet. It was a quiet night. The sun had set. Houses were lit from the insides.The Bevill Center was packed. The parking lot was slammed. Families of all kinds...
Okay OPINION — Today I read an article my friend sent to me. The article was something that went viral on social media. When I finished reading it, I felt so bad that I had to take some Pepto-Bismol and lie down.It was depressing. The writer...
Dear Kid OPINION — Dear Kid,Don’t grow up. Don’t turn into an adult. That’s my advice. Resist adulthood. Be a kid forever.Right now, a lot of adults are angry in America. To be fair, we have a lot to be angry about. But adults can behave badly when...
Facing the unpredictable OPINION —When I was 40, Bruce Larson was one of my favorite authors. His book, The Emerging Church, affirmed for me the necessity of small groups for growing churches. In Dare to Live Now,he challenged lukewarm Christians...
An appointment with God OPINION — Spending time in prayer, alone with God, has been one of the wisest decisions I have ever made. As I look back, my only regret is that I did not spend more time praying.Only one man ever ridiculed me for praying....
For the love of cornbread OPINION — I don’t engage in controversy. But sometimes I have to. And this is one of those have-to moments.Namely, because I feel it’s my duty as a citizen of this country to bring important matters to the forefront of a...
Picking Up The Pieces OPINION — One of life’s greatest lessons is learning to pick up the pieces and get back in the game. To live well in the brokenness of our world is a lesson everyone must learn.Looking back at my childhood, I am so thankful my...
He will restore hope for the future OPINION — My wife and I were guests of friends in Falls Church, Virginia. I was preaching in their church for a few days. About 4:30 on the morning of our second day there, I collapsed in the hallway. The noise...
