Category: Reflections

“We can choose to be kind…rather than right.” Very cool guidance from an expert on dementia care – when dealing with someone who struggles to remember, we can give up our right to be right and choose kindness instead. We frequently tend to forget that elderly people who struggle to remember details because of dementia […]

2019: A brand new year. Time for the lists. Best of. Worst of. Top 10. _____ of the year. And resolutions. There will be lots of resolutions, things to begin or end, to do more of or less of. Gyms will be crowded for a couple of weeks. Nothing really special about New Years Day. […]

A tiny baby in a manger. Vulnerable. Poor. Experienced gossip, injustice, discrimination. He could’ve come with an army of angels, but he chose to be born and to live among the marginalized and disenfranchised. Christmas isn’t about the conquering Savior. It’s about sacrifice and service and strength in weakness. It’s probably not how you and […]

Ever see a brand new idea wrapped in familiar words? Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.”  It’s part of the sermon on the mount. He spoke to a crowd. You…plural. All of us. Light, not lights. You, me, all of us…one light, the light of the world. We’re in this together.

This week America celebrates the life of its 41st president. George H. W. Bush lived a remarkable life marked by devotion to service. Among 41’s considerable accomplishments, I’m personally grateful for his support of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Bush’s 1989 signing of the ADA marked a major milestone in civil rights legislation. Like […]

I’m having a tough time feeling thankful. Details aren’t important, and honestly it’s hard to admit because tomorrow’s THE BIG DAY and I’m surrounded by blessings I don’t deserve and we’re supposed to be thankful. What in the world is wrong with me…how can I possibly not be thankful? Wait…I never said I’m not thankful. […]

“Why don’t we just listen?” Heard that question a lot lately. Someone has a difficult story, and others wonder why simply listening seems beyond our cultural capability. I get it. Even in ideal circumstances, deep, non-judgmental listening takes a great deal of effort. Put the story in an emotionally-charged (or politically-charged) situation and one has […]

When I was 16, my best friend and I took a brief road trip. My uncle gave me a car, a ’51 Chevy. It was a pile of junk – I think he did it mostly to irritate my dad. Anyway, my buddy and I hopped on a bus, excited about 500 miles of open road […]

In his first inaugural address to a country mired in the depths of the Great Depression, FDR struck a note of optimism. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Nothing to be afraid of…except being afraid? I’m not so sure. Lots of fear these days, related to all sorts of issues. Much […]

My parents taught me the value of saving money. Old-school saving – don’t spend everything you earn, set aside a little each week or each month. Over time, those small amounts accumulate and carry over. It’s a great lesson that’s served me well. I learned, for example, to “save up” for a big expense. Work […]