The Stars We’ll Never Reach
There's a certain persistence required for hope. We might not see a peaceful present, but generations ahead of us will live in a better future.
A Day Off With No Fried Chicken
Imagine a world where everyone could afford to take a day off. The only way this future could come about is if those who can afford to take two days off make it possible for everyone to have one. We would need to take only what we need and relearn how to live life.
The Adventures of Jorg
The Barista misheard my name, but I admit it was nice to have someone assume a good version of me. Moreover, the assumption improved the interaction.
This Version of You
It's been said that every seven years, every cell in your body has died and regenerated, creating a completely different you. So physically, you and I are entirely other people than we were in 2016. I know the science of this idea is not 100% accurate, but it's a fun starting point when thinking about the future and what's next
Train Station on Fire!
…Through the dark, I focused my eyes to make sure I saw correctly, and sure enough, a group of people had lit a fire on the station platform. It wasn't a massive bonfire, but it was big enough that I could see large arcs of flame from about 50 yards away. I quickly scanned the area to see if a security officer could respond and take action. There was none present.
Book Review: Saving Us by Katharine Hayhoe
"Saving Us," is the first book I read this year. I'm glad I did because I found it inspiring on many different levels. As I mentioned earlier, this is a daunting subject for me, and I often feel like I've got little say on the issue of climate change.
Prepping for 50 Million
Generosity is not a superpower that comes to you after being stuck by lightning or bitten by a radioactive spider.
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".