What do you think when you see this little blue guy? I asked some middle school kids that question. Hands went up, signaling a number of insightful comments. The sign reminded some of friends or family members. A few said they wondered about the people who needed those parking spaces. One appreciated that we care […]
Continue readingMore TagWhy Am I Here?
Why am I here? Whenever I talk to a group, I usually begin with some version of that question. Yesterday I visited a group of middle school students. Their answers reinforced my conviction that I always learn more from kids than they learn from me.
Continue readingMore TagSemi-Regular Newsletter 4/27/10
Here’s a link to the April 27, 2010 edition of Rich’s Semi-Regular Newsletter. A (hopefully) interesting new magazine article and a request for HELP. Thanks for being part of the circle. I appreciate you, and I don’t say it frequently enough. Enjoy!
Continue readingMore TagDon’t Make Me Your Project
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Saint Augustine “I hate feeling like […]
Continue readingMore TagMindful
Happy Monday, and welcome to an interesting word-of-the-week … MINDFUL Are you mindful? I thought that was sort of an interesting question, even though I had to think a while about exactly what it meant. I guess the opposite would be mindless, which seems like a pretty accurate description of how I stumble through life. […]
Continue readingMore TagLimits Or Possibilities?
I suspect we’re all pretty good at feeling sorry for ourselves. Then we meet someone like this. Go ahead–be inspired, smile, and cry a little. And then have a great day! If you can’t see the video, click here.
Continue readingMore TagGive And Receive
Yesterday I wrote about The Hardest Thing I’ve had to do since my injury. One especially insightful commenter (Thanks Jen!) reminded me that humility is a two-way street. Submission In John 13, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. It’s a well-known story, a frequently referenced model for Christ’s attitude of humble service to others. But […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Hardest Thing
What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to do? Have you ever wished you could gracefully get out of a situation? That’s how I felt when I arrived at my last speaking engagement.
Continue readingMore TagA Life Of “Yes”
Here’s this week’s contribution to the One-Word-At-A-Time Blog Carnival. I encourage you to click the link and check out some of the other carnival attractions. As the last fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5), this week’s word is: SELF-CONTROL Is Jesus about “No” or “Yes”? I know this guy who used to have a really distorted picture of Christianity. […]
Continue readingMore TagStrength
Welcome to word-of-the-week on another Monday at Bouncing Back. Today’s word is … STRENGTH I don’t normally associate paralysis with strength. When I recall twenty-two years of adjusting to life in a wheelchair, it’s as though I’m programmed to greet difficult circumstances with: I’ll never be able to … A wise physical therapist named Leonard […]
Continue readingMore TagOne Person
Do you ever think, “If I was in charge, I’d ___.” Fortunately for everyone in the universe, I’m not in charge. But if I was, I’d make life all fun. No saddness, no unpleasant realities, just laughs and chuckles. Yeah, I know all the reasons why that wouldn’t work, but one of the advantages of […]
Continue readingMore TagPorcupines And Puppies
Yesterday I asked How Do You Help An Injured Porcupine? Today I’m thinking of a different question: Why bother?
Continue readingMore Tag