Good…And Lost
Good and lost are not words I would typically put together. They seem at odds with each other. For most people, feeling lost, displaced, and forgotten are not feelings we would seek out on our own. But inevitably, we all come to a place where the next steps are unknown. It could be the loss of a job, a loved one, a community, or even a dream.
Life of the Party
You may have already sent out your New Years' celebration, but let me encourage you to invite one more guest. My friend Grace, yes, the world's worst street preacher. While not a prominent guest, I assure you that she'll be the life of the party.
Santa Rides ETS
Believing good people surround you will help you take risks, speak honestly, and do the right thing.
Worf’s a Vegan
So I asked myself again with an added condition; could I switch to an entirely plant-based diet if my life depended on it? My answer to that is, I hope so. I sincerely hope that if confronted with the choice to either survive or die early, I'd do everything I can to choose life.
Waiting For The Lottery
For many of us, Christmas 2020 was rough. I remember writing this after having to shut down the hotel I managed just before Christmas. Thankfully, I’m in a much different place in 2022, but the need to be kind and gracious is still relevant today. If you’re going through a rough patch today, you’re not alone.
Nostalgia-The False God
Sales and marketing departments love people like me because I'm an easy target. They know that all they have to do is put out some key images, like a retro-looking Santa with a bottle of Coke, and I'm in! Take my money!… Businesses know how to use the not-so-secret weapon of marketing... Nostalgia.
The Practice of Fear and Courage
I've let people down. There are times in my life when I've been a very well-practiced coward. On the other hand, there have been moments in my life when I've been courageous.
Hangry Community
…I get hangry. I eat a very early breakfast, and the result of this habit is that by 11:30, I'm starting to get hungry. If I haven't started to eat by noon, I'm ok, but I am now a ticking time bomb. By 12:30, I will be irritable if I have yet to have a bite to eat. In the tragic event that I have not eaten lunch by 1:00 PM, I am now a potential work hazard.
Happy Halloween!
Twenty years ago, a professor of mine asked a question in class that continues to revisit me at Halloween. "What is the most Christian thing to do at Halloween?"
Travel Light
It's the final leg of travel on my 23-hour journey from Edmonton to Buenos Aires. I check to make sure I have everything. What am I taking on this flight? I have one backpack, and inside it, I've packed one toiletry bag, a book, and a cellphone charger. Boom!
Expensive Memory
I think we all recognize that memories are never perfect. In the best-case scenario, they're like a colander that holds the essential ingredients but allows minor and more subtle elements to escape. As a result, our memories are porous and permeable and have a way of depreciating over time.
Life in the Dark
If we let it, the darkness has a way of isolating us all into believing we're alone in the world.
Deal with the Snake
I'm not the first person who should be giving lessons on leadership.-but one of the lessons I've learned about leadership is that being a leader means you have to be the one that deals with the "snake".
Speechless
Those who change the world are the ones who are better at listening than talking
A Night in the ER
Complaining is a straightforward exercise, and it doesn't require much effort. It comes easy for most of us. Our health care system is an easy target for our complaints. I'm not suggesting for a moment that we don't work towards improvements in our current system, but I'd rather take this opportunity to recognize the fantastic health care workers that serve in Alberta.
Give Peace a Like
Like many of you, I was embarrassed and angry to see what happened last weekend in Grand Prairie, where an individual verbally assaulted Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and her staff. Unfortunately, the man's conduct is an example of behavior in Alberta that's becoming far too common. Not just in Alberta but in Canada and around the world.
BBQ Heaven
What is heaven like? Well, friend, I think it's like an afternoon barbeque with everyone at the table. Experiences like this bring heaven to earth. The world would look so much better with open doors and full plates.
Better Than Pizza
m. Some will want to participate, and some will not. That's ok. You should still try to add some variety. Here's what I did this weekend. I took my team on a quick tour of the city. An adventure that took us across the river, trails, and rails. If you think your team would enjoy it, feel free to use any ideas that would help.
The Gift of a Three-Hour Drive
Do you feel like you're in a rut? Let me challenge you to find a free day, load up your road trip playlist, jump in your car, and grab a breakfast; a Mcdonald's Egg McMuffin meal will do. Then drive. Drive 90 minutes to 3 hours in any direction. Have lunch wherever you stop, and then head home. The only caveat I'd add is to try to avoid using the Queen Elizabeth II Highway. Instead, try using a highway that's less familiar to you.