What Early 90s Teen Lit Taught Me about Unity in 2020

The legendary, My Teacher Flunked the Planet!!!

Friends, I have just published my first story at Medium: What Early 90s Teen Lit Taught Me about Unity in 2020.

This was inspired by reading, for the first time, Bruce Coville’s 1992 work of young adult fiction, My Teacher Flunked the Planet. Check out the article to get the story behind this intriguing title and what it made me think about mankind, and world peace in 2020. Yes, you read that right!

Another thing I love about this is that only in a year like 2020 would I even have come across this book, in one of my many neighborhood walks and visits to neighborhood little libraries. Someone got rid of that book, and I picked it up. I love writing for children and young adults, and I certainly love sci-fi. On that hot July day, I came across My Teacher Flunked the Planet and knew it had to be mine!

Please give it a “clap” and otherwise share, as that helps with distribution. Here’s the link again. Enjoy!

Audio of yesterday's Morning Air interview

I spoke with John and Glen on Morning Air yesterday for about a full 20 minutes. Hoo-wee! You can listen to that convo in the player here.

John wisely observed up top that we ought not to get too ahead of ourselves re: planning ahead, but 30 days is not much, my friends. Make your decision now about committing time and energy toward being with Jesus in these last few weeks of the year. Really make it count, not for any external reason (there’s no prize here), but because God desires a relationship with us and because, well, it’s good for you.

Here’s the Bishop Barron devotional I mention. But you don’t have to copy me; there’s a million resources out there. Find an online retreat! Find a virtual candle wreath, if that’s a thing. You know what to do. If you don’t, send me a message.

Radio appearance tomorrow: 7 am ET on Morning Air

The fine folks at Morning Air have invited me on to speak tomorrow at 7 am ET, and the topic of choice will be Advent. Because believe it or not, the season of Advent is literally only a month away (but how!?).

You can listen to the program online by clicking on and opening this player in your browser; or you can find where Relevant Radio is carried on your local radio station.

Fond memories: the first time I ever went on the show, four years ago, was to talk about my article, 5 Ways to Make the Most of Advent. Tomorrow, though, I will be talking more about Advent in the context of this bizarre and trying (and seemingly never-ending) year. I believe Catholic traditions are important for a lot of internal and external reasons; they help us mark the passage of time, they help us feel connected to a larger body or movement (identity), and they can even serve as a means of evangelization to others.

However, in a year as broke-down as this one, I would not be surprised if it takes extra work on the part of Catholics to commit to, and be intentional about, observing the Advent season. It has been hard to maintain faith with church closures, record levels of Catholic church vandalism, general persecution of practicing Christians in America, and a lack of access to the sacraments. Do I really have to put in effort now, at the end of the year? Why not just drink your way through the holidays, eh? Forget your devotional, and acts of service, and lighting the candles. Let’s just get this year over with.

So I want to encourage people to - not do that. Instead, really do Advent. Don’t give into grief or a feeling of helplessness. Ultimately, it is a season of waiting (something which we have gotten very good at this year), in hopeful, and joyful, anticipation of the birth of Christ. So have a Christmas poetry reading (even if virtually). Contribute to your parish’s holiday food drive. Buy a devotional and spend ten minutes in prayer and reflection each morning (I’ll be doing Bishop Barron’s). And make a determination now, as to what your Advent practices will be. As I point out in that article, it’s not a competition, and the purpose is to bring you closer to God. Let’s bring it home strong, shall we? Take that, enemy of our human nature. And 2021, whatever you have in store, may God give us the grace to get through it.