Meet Ryder. He is a service dog, gentle, attentive, and remarkably aware of the person beside him. Some service dogs are trained to recognize things that others may not see. They can sense signs of medical distress before anyone else notices. They may alert their handler to an approaching emergency, retrieve medication, or bring help when it is needed. What struck me is that they are trained to notice what may be invisible to everyone else. And that made me think about how ma

There was a time when people said “God willing” much more often. They would say, “I’ll see you tomorrow, God willing.” “We’ll travel next summer, God willing.” “We’ll celebrate together next year, God willing.” Today, we do not hear those words as often. Maybe it is because we have become more confident in our plans. We have calendars, schedules, reminders, reservations, and long-term goals. We organize our days carefully and often speak about the future as though it is alrea

When I first came to the United States in 2015, my initial assignment was in St. Louis, Missouri. Before that, I had spent more than ten years serving Armenian communities in France, Switzerland, and Belgium. My daily life was in French. I knew the language, understood the culture, and felt comfortable in my ministry. Then God opened a completely new door. Usually, clergy arriving from overseas spend some time at St. Nersess Seminary. They improve their English, learn about A