Bedtime Questions
There's an old idiom that says that you have to sleep in the bed you make—a poetic way of saying that we have to live with the consequences of our actions. I don't fully accept the concept because I'm well aware that many sleep in beds made by others. However, I have several questions that I ask myself when trying to hold myself accountable for what I'd like to stand for.
Where Others have Gone Before
There are times in life when we think we're unique, brave pioneers, but after some sober-minded reflection, we realize our journeys are rarely exceptional. Over time, others have joined us on this lonely highway of discovering new paths in the journey of life and faith.
Jane Goodall’s Famous Last Words
I'm used to thinking of generosity as people sharing resources like cash or physical gifts. I love gifting, but I am convinced that adding value to others' lives has a lot to do with sharing your story. Story sharing adds clarity and reaffirms solidarity in our most important relationships.
How we Mend
We rarely identify with Zachaeus, a wealthy tax collector who used the system to steal from his neighbors. After reading Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-Based Repair by Jodi Spargur, I see a parallel story of Zachaesus and modern settler Canadians. The story of his redemption could serve as a template for us in our own repentance as a country and in mending the relationship with the First Peoples of the land.
Passport Privilege
Destinations are like books with pages of lessons for us to read. It's up to us how we let those stories shape us. We need to be unselfish with those lessons and apply them to our lives at home.
Do we need an Apocalypse?
Forest fires begin with a spark and spread. We are not immune to this virus of violence that spreads with a specific amount of pressure. Gratitude is an effective anti-viral counteragent. Gratitude is deceptively disruptive to conflict.
Eyes, Teeth & Charlie Kirk
Critics of the faith often cite scripture passages to invalidate the idea of a loving God and creator. There are several passages for them to choose from, one of them being, "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise," found in the Hebrew scriptures in the book of Exodus.
Staring you in the Face
There have been times when I've tried to find the obvious when it's staring me in the face. Where can I find community? Just like whatever I'm searching for in a drawer or cabinet, community is usually staring me in the face.
The Races We Quit
Longevity is admirable, but it can also become an idol that doesn't deserve as much attention as it gets. If you're running a metaphorical marathon ordained by religious or partisan adherence, take a breather, step off to the side, and take a good look at the race as it keeps going around and around in circles.
Safe to Share?
One of the most satisfying experiences I've had as a leader is having a team member share their goals and aspirations after working with me. I’m pleased because they feel safe to do so. Obviously, I'd like that person to stick around forever, but I'm happy to be seen as a person who's safe to share dreams with.
More than Monkeys
It’s the gas of human emotions. Given the choice between filling someone’s tank with fear or hope, people will often choose the former because fear is much more economical. Fear goes a long way when trying to achieve results, but at some point, we must acknowledge its exacting toll on our hearts and minds. It’s an overly caffeinated emotion that makes it hard to sleep at night.
QE2 Billboard Preachers
To use someone’s name as they offered it is a meaningful validation of their journey; a billboard has never done this for me.
The Good Kind of Explosions
I'll be honest, I'm often overwhelmed by what's happening in Gaza and Ukraine. I feel powerless, frustrated, and angry. I’m furious at the lack of imagination in addressing these conflicts. The acceptance of violence is the greatest failure of humanity.
John MacArthur was Late
In many ways, we're all late to the party of grace. We all waste a lot of time building exclusive lists that include the names of people who we believe "get it" and pass our doctrinal purity tests.
Superman: My Spoiler-Free Review
Pain is easy to depict, but portraying vulnerability and the joy of life together requires a great deal of skill.
Elbows up for the Dream
Life isn't going to serve us everything we like to be happy. Neither is that the responsibility of our country. Canadians must recognize the context of our discontent.
Quiescent
However, years ago, my life became more fulfilling when I became focused on helping to create breakaway moments for members of my team. The questions that inspire me the most in my career are the ones where I ask myself about what I’m doing to add value to the lives of those around me.
Pentecost and DEI
There are three triggering letters in the alphabet that evoke strong reactions among some in the circles of conservative Christianity. Those three letters are D, E, and I.
Diamond Studded and Life Stunted
A bottle of water will run you about $1.29 at any convenience store. The cost of a diamond is between $2,500 to $18,000. How we perceive those values depends on our circumstances. These values are flipped in a desert.