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. […]
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No Words
I don’t know what to say. At such times I’m tempted to fill the space with words because I feel like I should say something. But…we can’t all be experts on international relations. We can’t all be political leaders. Do I ignore the horror unfolding on the other side of the globe? Maybe just write […]
Continue readingMore TagCouldn’t Care Less (More)
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 […]
Continue readingMore TagBad Timing
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 […]
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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 […]
Continue readingMore TagA Question To Begin
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 […]
Continue readingMore TagOld Habits
I’m falling back into an old bad habit. There’s no doubt – we’re surrounded right now by negativity. COVID, political divisions, racial tension. Add the work we do with human trafficking, the constant awareness of evil and injustice – it’s sort of taken over my awareness. I’ve surrendered my agency, allowed this sense of foreboding […]
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It’s the week for Thank You. Becky and I will be traveling on the big day. No feast. No football. Just us, the road, and whatever fast food is available. No Thanksgiving, I guess. Or maybe it’s not about a holiday. President Lincoln proclaimed the first National Day Of Thanksgiving in 1863. Immersed in the […]
Continue readingMore TagHow To Follow A Dream (4)
No matter what dream we’re following, there’s one absolutely essential ingredient. It’s good to follow with Grace and Faith and Humility. They’ll help us be calmer, have better connections, stay on track. But one ingredient makes the difference between success and failure. Hope Viktor Frankel was an Austrian psychiatrist who survived the horrors of Auschwitz […]
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Following the dream doesn’t happen by accident. We’ve already talked about Grace and Faith. Humility In a culture of selfies and Tik Tok and “Look at me!” – following the dream works better with, “there you are.” Please don’t turn this into some sort of legalistic “Never talk about yourself or your accomplishments” or “Never […]
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Let’s continue our conversation. Part 1 (Faith) here. Grace We’re gonna mess up, make mistakes. Others we meet along the journey will mess up as well. Decide in advance to default toward grace. Decide we’ll give others, and ourselves, the benefit of the doubt. Take the energy we invest in judgment and snarkiness – invest […]
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Last time I talked about selfies. It’s not about pictures, of course. I love seeing and showing you what my friends are up to. It’s really about attention-seeking in a culture in which people become famous (and wealthy) simply for being famous. Jesus said we should let our light shine before others. As we follow […]
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