Category: Freedom Tour

“Wow, this looks like fun!” It’s probably my favorite comment when people walk up to the FREEDOM TOUR table. They see the photos, the jerseys, the maps, and the whole thing looks like a big, crazy adventure. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the smiles, the sunshine, the friendships and the sense of accomplishment that […]

I know I’ll fail. Don’t know when, where, or in which direction, but at some point I’ll mess it up. That’s a given. No one likes to fail. I’d like to be the guy who always makes the right choice, always sees the big picture, always looks ten steps ahead. Sadly, I’m not. You probably aren’t, either. Failure […]

What do you want at the center? I confronted that question during the last few days in a totally unexpected set of circumstances. Had to answer What really matters? as I concurrently smile and tremble in fear. Took the first step on a journey with no clue about what the path looks like. And I’m supposed to be […]

What’s the heart of service? Helping those in need? Doing good? Supporting worthy causes? “I imagine that the first question the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I […]

I love new ideas. I can’t imagine anything better than building something brand-spanking-new composed of fresh, original notions. Built from scratch, all original ingredients, hand-designed from the ground up. Reflecting yesterday on lessons from MLK Day, I realized my ideal might not be the way things actually work. Of course we need new ideas, new relationships, new […]

What’s your role in the story? The villain harms someone, but it’s never his fault. He refuses to take responsibility, so he re-casts himself as a victim. We’re asked to feel sorry for this villain-turned-victim. Most of us would have a difficult time casting ourselves in the traditional, idealized role of hero. But in a […]

Training happens slowly. You can’t rush the process of preparing for a marathon, a long-distance bike ride, performing surgery, playing a symphony. Training requires time and sacrifice. You can’t “cram.” We all knew friends (not us, of course!) who waited until the day before the test to study. The all-nighter, ten cups of coffee, and perhaps […]

Lots of conversation these days about resistance. Makes sense, I suppose, to fight something you oppose. But be careful. You tend to steer where you look. Focus on the thing you hate, and you end up immersed in a whole lot of hate. Focus on what you love, what you’re willing to fight for, and you […]

Suppose Bob and I enter a race, winner gets $50. Bob wins a tough contest and collects his money. The race director approaches and shakes hands with both of us. “Great race! You guys put on a great show.” Then he hands me a $50 bill. Bob’s angry, grumbles under his breath about how this “everybody gets a trophy” […]

A silly math joke: there are 10 kinds of people–those who understand the binary system, and those who don’t. You don’t have to appreciate the joke to understand the tendency to draw absolute lines. Yes/No. Either/Or. This/That. In/Out. With us/Against Us. Binary thinking makes things simple. Two categories, no muss, no fuss. Cross my line […]

It’s a new year, and What’s New? is all the rage. What’s New? might be creative and cutting-edge. Or it might be marching in place, saying nothing in ten thousand words. Better question: What’s Next? Let’s make sure What’s Next? actually matters. New or not, let’s make sure What’s Next? moves the ball down the floor. New ideas. Excellence. How to invite folks to […]