Lots of talk these days about respect, or really lack of respect, in public discourse. I think a lot of people confuse and conflate “respect” with other ideas. Here are some thoughts adapted from a 3-year-old post and ideas I owe to my friend Eric Larsen. When you step into the blue circle you agree […]
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The Very Long Arc
Earthrise, Christmas Eve, 1968. Orbiting the desolate moon in the Apollo 8 spacecraft, Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman were the first humans to see the Earth as a solitary oasis suspended in darkness. I remember sitting in front of a B&W TV as the crew read in turn the ancient opening verses from […]
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In The Aftermath
When you travel for Christmas, the drive home is always longer. You know the feeling, right? Same roads, same distance, but somehow the return trip, minus the anticipation and excitement, isn’t as much fun. The aftermath is always a bit of a letdown. I see it with the FREEDOM TOUR, all the months of buildup […]
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O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining… I love the song. Hearing it this morning got me wondering about “Holy.” On the FREEDOM TOUR we gather at the conclusion around a pile of stones, a sort of makeshift altar. Each stone represents a burden carried by a team member and a commitment to stop […]
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About Believing The Absurd
God came to us as a baby. Completely helpless and dependent. Poor. Hunted by the authorities. His birth was announced to a band of stinky shepherds. Three foreign “kings” were the only others who paid much attention. His family situation was somewhat unusual, given the whole virgin birth deal. Grew up in a nondescript, backwater […]
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You Can’t Murder Murder
“Two wrongs don’t make a right!” Anyone else hear that from mom or dad, perhaps while explaining the misguided nature of your efforts to confront some perceived injustice? It’s a principle. As much as we wish otherwise, the end doesn’t justify the means. Wrong in the pursuit of right is still wrong. I’m thinking about […]
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So, What’s Next?
Today’s kind of a big day for me. Thirty years ago…December 5, 1987…I was installing some Christmas lights. I fell about nine feet from a roof and shattered three cervical vertebrae. In the blink of an eye, everything changed. I love this picture. It’s a lot more than just an old bald guy, his dog, […]
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Always?
In any circumstance… Education is always the answer. Not schooling, but honest inquiry that says, “I want to understand. Tell me more.” Relationship is always the answer. Not Facebook friends, but connection that breaks down walls and allows us to be authentically who we were created to be. Service is always the answer. Not helping […]
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When We Stare Down An Empty Road
We all appreciate a happy ending. Jesus taught difficult truths. His stories often reflected the nitty-gritty reality of a broken world that doesn’t guarantee happily-ever-after. The Parable Of The Lost Son, however, provides the ultimate feel-good ending. Son rejects dad, squanders family fortune on years of unsavory activity. Son becomes homeless, destitute, and desperate. Son […]
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When I Confront My Hate
Two recent news stories caught my attention. An organization matched African orphans with U.S. couples wishing to adopt. Turns out the organization was basically stealing kids from their parents and selling them to unsuspecting couples. The kids, their parents, and the adopting couples were victims of an elaborate child trafficking scheme. Another organization sells service dogs […]
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Oldest Trick In The Book
If you’re not on our side, you’re on their side. Draw a line in the sand. Rally the troops. You’re either one of us, or you’re one of them. And we all know what they’re like, right? A line in the sand arbitrarily reduces complex issues to black/white, yes/no. We all know most important matters […]
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Soul-Sucking Cynicism
“It’s easier to be a cynic.” A guy said that a few weeks ago after I talked about hope. In his experience, hope opened the door to disappointment and heartache. Easier, he figured, to avoid the pain and resign to the inevitable. I listened. I’m sure I tried to offer some wise-sounding words of encouragement. […]
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