The disciples were sitting in a boat. [Matthew 14:26-32] After a long night battling the wind, they saw a man walking toward them on the water. Tired and bleary-eyed, they imagined that a ghost approached from the mist. They cried out in fear. It was Jesus, and He said, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t […]
Continue readingClanging Cymbals
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [1 Corinthians 13:1] Picture a band comprised entirely of first graders. Now imagine that they’re all equipped with cymbals and gongs. All different shapes and sizes of cymbals, all sorts […]
Continue readingLeft, Right, Or Something Else?
Which are you—left, right, or somewhere in the middle? We’re apparently programmed to think of nearly every aspect of our lives in terms of a linear continuum. Politics provides the most obvious example. Left/right, liberal/conservative, red/blue. While most of us don’t reside at an extreme, we’re certainly conditioned to think of ourselves at least on […]
Continue readingClarity
Monday Monday, can’t trust that day, Monday Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way Do those words from an old song describe how Monday feels to you? If so, maybe this word-of-the-week will help … CLARITY Does your life ever feel out of control, too busy, too far to go and not enough time […]
Continue readingFather And Son
Rick can’t run without Dick. Dick wouldn’t run without Rick. It’s an incredible partnership. But be careful–after watching this, you might be inspired to do something crazy like pursuing your dream. If you can’t see the video, click here.
Continue readingTwelve Year Old Eyes
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 readingWhy 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 readingSemi-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 readingDon’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 readingMindful
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 readingLimits 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 readingGive 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 […]
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