Sean Dietrich
Columnist
Sean is a writer for The Observer
Sean Dietrich's Latest
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...
The aftermath of hell and hurricanes OPINION — It’s all gone.That’s what the lady on the news said.She was an older woman, being interviewed by a reporter. Giant news camera shoved in her face.The lady sounded like she was in a uniquely frantic...
My philosophy of life changed OPINION — Years ago I was observed that many successful people have a philosophy of life that provides motivation and energy for living. I determined to write my own, but decided first to research “philosophies of...
Going through Tennessee OPINION — The first day of autumn is almost here, and Tennessee is experiencing the birth pangs of fall. The colors are changing, the air is crisp, the natural scenery has become purely college football paraphernalia.It’s a...
Back to the future OPINION — I’m in the airport. There is a tiny robot cruising around, delivering food to customers. Kids are following the robot, laughing. People are taking pictures.It seems like everyone is talking about AI. It’s on the news....
Welcome the touch of another hand OPINION — Need a job? A good way to get hired is to say to a foreman, who might need someone with your skills, “Can you use another hand?” If he accepts your offer, and you put in a good day’s work, you may have a...
The Good 'Ol Days OPINION — The news is in. Less than one third of Americans have ever written a physical letter in their lifetime.Which isn’t surprising inasmuch as studies find that 76% of American students lack basic writing skills such as...
That trembling in my soul OPINION — Were You There” is a haunting phrase in the old spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” The refrain stirs my soul every time I sing it: “Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble ….”The song...