Category: Reflections

People do a lot of kind things so I can be “independent.” My bike has a unique brake, similar to an old-school coaster brake on a kid’s bike. It allows me to pedal backwards to stop without removing my hands from the cranks. Very cool. The drawback – I can’t reverse the cranks or roll […]

Isaac Newton invented calculus in isolation. Newton was a student at Cambridge University in 1665 when students were sent home in fear of bubonic plague. Studying privately, Newton developed the basic ideas of calculus…as well as gravitational theory and optics. Most of us are not Isaac Newton. Perhaps the most powerful lesson I learned in […]

A few more comments to follow up on the last two posts about legacy & making a difference. After my talk on Saturday, people were gracious – as always. All sorts of comments about the impact of the story and how I’ve touched so many people along the way. I appreciate the kindness. But comments […]

Lots of conversation these days about accountability. To me, though, most of this “accountability” is just about pointing fingers and blaming. There’s nothing wrong with holding people accountable when they’ve done something wrong, but I think we confuse it with a bigger idea. What we really want, I think, is for people to take responsibility. […]

I couldn’t care less. Ever heard that? Ever said it? There’s a conversation. Someone’s passionate about a topic and some cynic reacts dismissively, “I couldn’t care less.” Seems like there’s a lot of I-couldn’t-care-less around lately. Unless the issue is right in our faces and impacts us directly and personally, it’s awfully tempting to turn […]

The time is always right to do what is right. ~MLK When planning the 1963 March on Washington, President Kennedy met with Dr. King and expressed concern that the event was perhaps “ill-timed.” Dr King responded, “Frankly, I have never engaged in any direct-action movement that did not seem ill-timed.” + + + Each year […]

Last time I talked about beginning with a question. “How can I be helpful?” seems like a good place to start. Maybe I’ll add a couple of others. This one comes from the reflections of my friend Jon Swanson. Jon’s a hospital chaplain who tries by example to help us learn to be a bit […]

I’m starting 2022 with a question. Instead of a resolutions or goals, this old teacher prefers long-term, open questions that challenge me and guide my thinking. So I’ll begin 2022 by reminding myself of a question. “How can I be helpful?” It’s a difficult question for me, because this wheelchair guy often feels helpless. I […]