The World’s Smallest Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral of the Prince of Peace, was a 14-by-17 foot stone chapel with a reach far beyond its modest walls. What it lacked in size, it made up for in spirit. This was the ministry of Bishop Karl Prüter of Christ Catholic…
Category: Highways, Byways & Hedges
“Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in,
that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23 (KJV)
Whether driving, pedaling, or afoot, I’m always on a pilgrimage,
wandering the Road to Emmaus, looking for Jesus in the faces I meet along the way.
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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Nomad Stillness: Quartzsite Reflections
I’m on retreat in the desert outside Quartzsite, Arizona, on Bureau of Land Management land, wide, quiet, and uncluttered. This time away is both personal and spiritual. It’s personal in that I’m re-centering after Christmas and the long stretch of work at Dancingbird Gallery, spending my days at the torch…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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2026 RTR: Rubber Tramp Rendezvous in Quartzsite Arizona #VanLife
2026 RTR: Rubber Tramp Rendezvous in Quartzsite Arizona #VanLife I’ve landed in sun-washed Quartzsite, Arizona, where every winter the desert becomes a temporary village of nomads and wanderers. Vans, RVs, buses, and weathered rigs of every kind gather here, rolling homes carried on wheels, shaped by miles, and rooted in…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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VanLife Day 10 or We Don’t Own Our Next Breath
It was a beautiful morning, the kind that makes you glad to be alive. The birds were in full chorus and the air was cool and crisp and gentle on my skin. A soft breeze ruffled the leaves in the trees and the smell of spring was in the air….
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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VanLife Tricks: The Alchemy of Turning Wood Into Iron
The alchemy of turning wood into iron is pretty easy as it turns out. It’s called Rust-Oleum Universal All Surface Flat Metallic Soft Iron Spray Paint and Primer in 1. I really couldn’t have asked for a better color. I have a thing about grey. Perhaps you’ve noticed a pattern…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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Splinters, Blisters, and a Build-Out, Oh My!
Had I known, I think I would have purchased a Class C RV. Armed with a screwdriver, a hammer, some nails, some glue, and leftover paper towels I went to work. Lucky for me, my measurements and the cuts that the helpful guy from Home Depot made were all spot…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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Build or Buy? VanLife Decisions
Well, after looking around at flea markets, researching various ideas, and literally weighing the options, I’ve opted to build what I need. Now, how to do that with a manual screwdriver, a hammer, and absolutely no carpentry skills. In a phrase reminiscent of one of my childhood heroes, Dr. Leonard…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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Let the Build-Out Begin
Deciding what one needs in a vehicle one is going to live in encourages much thought and planning. You have little space to work with and every square inch counts. I don’t want to mess with the flooring, the walls or the windows. The Kraken is pretty nice and reasonably…
Highways, Byways & Hedges
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VanLife: The Memorial of the Kraken’s BuildDay
It was cleaning day and also, I would discover, the build date or birthday of the Kraken. He turned 23 today! Happy BuildDay old fellow! Interestingly enough it was also the Feast of St. Chad today. St. Chad lived in the 7th century and was not a flashy man. He…