The Crazy Quest

What would you do if you didn’t know you couldn’t do it?
This is a big week for me.
On Friday I completed the final day of a thirty-five year teaching career. I’m officially retired, a former teacher. And since I’m making the formal transfer from one phase of life to the next, this is the perfect [...]

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Why Do I Bother?

The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.
How much do you make for writing a blog?
When I replied that there’s no pay involved, he asked an even more revealing question: Then [...]

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Rebuking The Storm

One ship sails East, and another West,
By the self-same winds that blow,
Tis the set of the sails and not the gales,
That tells the way we go.  ~ Ella Wilcox
Occasionally I become a bit frustrated with “inspirational” musings about the blessings of adversity and the magical effects of a positive attitude.
When I’m having a tough day, [...]

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Eight Keys To Confronting Adversity

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.
I spend much of my time these days seeking creative ways to tell my story. In the past few [...]

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God’s Version Of Special

Normal is a setting on the dryer.
We’re obsessed with labels. Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, Christian, atheist—it seems that we’re intent on placing ourselves in neat little boxes and pretending that everyone in a particular box is identical.
The big problem with labels is that they obscure ideas and individuals. Then we demonize, bash, and attack the [...]

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Foolish Wisdom/Wise Foolishness

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.” ~ Steven Covey
I wonder if we’re not a little too distracted by what we perceive with our senses. The physical world has a way of deceiving us, getting us thinking that what we can see and touch comprises [...]

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Why Do You Believe In God?

Why do you believe in God?
The question stopped me in my tracks. I’m naturally a seeker and a questioner so I’m accustomed to reconciling the internal consistency of my faith, but such interactions occur with other believers. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered this foundational question.

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Dignity and Disrespect

 The speaker made a startling claim: “Every individual deserves respect.” I’m afraid I missed most of what remained in the message.

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Hypocrites, Hospitals, And The Hall Of Fame

Grace is given to heal the spiritually sick, not to decorate spiritual heroes. ~  Martin Luther
Those Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.
We’ve all heard it. We don’t like it. And it’s true.

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How Should We Pray?

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
I try to avoid politics. Really, I do.
I dislike partisan bickering and divisiveness that casts someone as the personification of evil simply based on party affiliation. I’m opposed to [...]

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