Christmas Clinometer
Christmas is the time to stop and train our eyes to see hope again. It's also an invitation for all of us to work towards a world where peace is the norm.
The Future We Hoped For
But I am learning and constantly reminding myself that frustration is not failure; it's learning. The seeds of hope grow from having some exposure to sunlight, but they must push through the gritty, earthy reality of life.
Thoroughly Used up…
Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.-Shaw
Appreciation and Action
Many wiser people have pointed out that peacekeeping is not a neutral act, and I believe the best way to show respect for our troops is for us to be active in peacekeeping.
Don’t Refund the Future
The road that leads to a brighter future is the one that is always under construction. To take that idea even further, the road to a brighter future can’t be reached with conventional roads- we can only get there with courage, innovation, and vision.
Fireworks and Smartphones
But humans aren't meant to capture every moment we find exciting and store it on a digital shelf for later enjoyment. If we do, the memory is there, but not nearly as potent as it was in real-time. If anything, it may even be a bit stale.
New York Feels Quiet
Anyone who's been to New York will tell you there is a constant dissonant clash of car horns, jackhammers, and the pained cries of ambulance sirens that echo down the streets. But as a visitor, I don’t feel the weight or connection to those sounds. These noises do not belong to me; they run off like rain trying to grip Teflon.
Welcome New York 2024
The primary reason I attended is that I believe that one of my most critical responsibilities as a leader is to stay inspired. Staying inspired and motivated is something I'm not going to wait to happen. I care enough about my career to invest in extending the borders of my knowledge and experience. Attending a conference is one way to do it.
God and Paint Brushes
There is something so special and powerful about a child creating art. He painted a bright yellow sunshine, green grass, and a tree. In my eyes, my son painted the most beautiful landscape I had ever seen.
My Security Detail
There is a history of Cancer in my genetics. I'm not paranoid, and I'm not afraid, but I do believe in being prepared. Heightened possibilities exist that this disease, which has inflicted so much pain in our world, may make an attempt on my life at some point.
What if no one shows up?
I write and create with the hopes of an audience, but I really do it because I believe the work in itself is important.
Inconvenient Change
Sometimes, it's easier to have someone remain a villain. False clarity makes conflict convenient. For good reason, we think of redemption as a great lofty concept, but it's easy to forget that it comes with a set of inconveniences. Basically, a redeemed villain requires me to rewire how I think and respond to that person. This isn't comfortable at all because it means I need to change.
Church of Glass Houses
Idols are insidious because they sneak in the back door of places of worship, take a seat in the pew, and sit there for years with no one asking them why they're there.
Repel The Attack
If something is not right and it is disrupting the health of whatever brings you contentment, take action to deal with it before it worsens. Like gardening, peace needs tending.
Joe Biden’s Next Transfer
It's easy enough for us to be aspirational about how we think others should deal with disappointment, but we need to decide ahead of time how to respond when life has dealt us cards that we can't work with.
Prayer for the Unremarkable
I work hard every day and try not to get in other people's way or stir up trouble. I don't even ask for much attention, but it'd be nice to have a bit. This world I live in has very little room for the unremarkable.
Is This Your Country?
"Is this your country?" a stranger asked me in amazement in broken English as I sat in a small food stall in Tokyo earlier this spring. I was scrolling through photos on my phone while waiting for chicken skewers to cook over a smokey charcoal grill. I was looking at some pictures of Edmonton's river valley, fields on the Alberta highways, and some scenes from the Maligne Canyon in Jasper.
Edmonton’s True Colors
This playoff run has not only unearthed the qualities of our community, but it has also revealed our true colors, which run deeper than blue and orange. Edmonton is a city of resilience and determination, a place where we work hard and love nothing more than having fun with friends and family. It's a city that we are proud to call home, a place where we can raise a family and build a life.