I recall Martin Luther King as a scary figure. Unrest and violence seemed to surround him. As a kid I really didn’t appreciate the significance of the issues, didn’t recognize the injustice. I grew up in the mostly white Midwest, and all I saw was disruption to what seemed a pretty safe, peaceful world.
Continue readingLessons From The Jar
A teacher stood before his class. On a table the students observed a large glass jar and a pile of fist-sized rocks. He carefully placed as many rocks into the jar as possible and asked the students to acknowledge that no more rocks would fit. Then he reached under the table, retrieved a pitcher containing pea-sized […]
Continue readingAverage
One interesting aspect of working with young adolescents involves observing their efforts to discover and define their identity. It’s a fascinating, often painful, and frequently humorous developmental challenge for each individual.
Continue readingAbnormal
“Life won’t ever be normal again.”“The way it used to be” wasn’t normal either, because normal is an illusion. Every life is different, every set of circumstances unique. The good old days weren’t perfect. Blessings and trials coexist in all situations.Question: Have you experienced a change that made you feel that life wouldn’t ever return […]
Continue readingChoices That Define
If I’ve learned anything from the accident that confined me to a wheelchair, it’s the principle that my journey is not the product of luck or fate or blind random chance. The path I follow is determined by my choices.
Continue readingThe Illusion Of Normal
I’ve been following the progress of two friends who currently struggle with life-altering medical situations. Both express their grief over the loss of “normal life.” I’ve been there; paralysis destroys anything resembling normal. I wasted many years lamenting the fact that I’d never be “normal” again. I’ve learned slowly and painfully that there’s no such […]
Continue readingLiving Intentionally
A teacher stood before his class. On a table the students observed a large glass jar and a pile of fist-sized rocks. He carefully placed as many rocks into the jar as possible and asked the students to acknowledge that no more rocks would fit. Then he reached under the table, retrieved a pitcher containing […]
Continue readingHappy New Year?
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s one of those perfunctory greetings we exchange for a few weeks, often without really thinking. What’s it mean? If you recently lost your job, your house nears foreclosure, or a relationship just ended painfully, do I really expect your new year to begin “happily?”
Continue readingPressure
“Real pressure is when you are asked to do something you are not prepared to do.” ~ Lou Holtz I thought about this quote when a reader asked, “What’s the one thing that kept you going when you wanted to quit?” I immediately felt a bit of pressure, because I wasn’t prepared to answer such […]
Continue readingA Light In The Darkness
I suspect we’re all feeling a bit overwhelmed by the overwhelming amount of negative news. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of so much despair. I don’t wish to ignore the very real problems we confront, but I also don’t want to dwell needlessly on doom and gloom. Here are some committments […]
Continue readingWhat Do You Say?
What do you say to someone who’s feeling hopeless and asks for your help? This isn’t a rhetorical question. We all encounter family members and friends who have lost hope. They struggle to cope with financial uncertainties, job loss, or the prospect of losing their home. They confront the reality of death or illness. They mourn broken relationships and shattered dreams. […]
Continue readingWhat Does It Mean?
“I cried all the way through your book. It is an incredible love story.” That kind comment from a reader of Relentless Grace highlights an interesting aspect of writing: words may mean one thing to the writer and quite another to each member of the audience. I’m fascinated by the assortment of thoughts and emotions prompted by the same story. Some readers […]
Continue reading