“Throughout history there has always been a tree in the middle of the garden. It’s there in the garden of our world. In the garden of our society. In the garden of our nation. In the garden of our community. In the garden of our families. In the garden of our hearts. There’s always a tree.“ Paul Wilkinson wrote an amazing blog post at Thinking Out Loud about this current generation – and the one prior – and every generation since... Read more
A couple of days ago, I told you the amazing story of Albert Sayegh. Last fall I met him in a Jordan motel and listened to his life in shambles. He had been displaced from Aleppo, Syria, his home bombed by any one of a dozen rebel or government groups. He gathered his wife and three young children and left everything . They crossed the southern border but then found themselves stuck in a quagmire of politics. Then Paris struck. Then San... Read more
You might remember the story. A Syrian family pushed out of their ancestral home by war and violence. If you don’t remember Albert Sayegh specifically, you might remember the smiling son – Jack. Finally, this is one Middle East refugee story with a happy ending. When I met Albert in Jordan last fall, he was pensive and struggling to make sense of it all. He was just few months removed from leaving his career as a mechanical engineer, his shop... Read more
How will we look back on these days of danger, terrorism and fear? How will we be defined? This is a war that sees no end. For every barricade we throw up, for every checkpoint, for every security precaution, there will always be those who will seek to destroy the innocent. It’s always been that way. The terrorists have worn names from many tribes, casting their hate under the cause of a flag, an ideology, a god. Right now, the... Read more
Medicine is at a critical place juncture in society. Rising costs and increased demands are spurring efficiencies. Entire industries exist solely to streamline healthcare, borrowing techniques from modern productivity models. Data has replaced the doctor and one Denver physician is sick of it. Dr. Abraham Nussbaum just released The Finest Traditions of My Calling: One Physician’s Search for the Renewal of Medicine and it’s a siren call for the profession to return to its roots. The book is a practical response... Read more
Mid-year evaluations are just around the corner, and I’m starting to question the whole idea of what “above-average” performance means. Every one of my peers would mortified to be graded at the mid-level, or horrors, below that. So we all wait for the performance score and breath sighs of relief. And once everyone has been grade, we all raise our coffee cops in a salute. We pulled it off, brothers and sisters in high achievement! But if we are all above... Read more
A good friend of mine has a father who is sinking into dementia. As his mind slips away, so are his “brakes.” The graceful restraints of social morays concerning foul language, anger, and human interaction are gone. He’s a handful, battling nurses, cussing out family members, and berating visitors. His final days are stress on everyone around him. It makes me wonder, what will I be like when I’m old? Frustration, Fear, Loneliness I saw my father angry one time... Read more
It took some time to find the apartment. It was tucked away in a labyrinth of unmarked streets and unmarked buildings. Finally, we discovered the staircase that led behind the building. Tapping on the door we were greeted warmly by a good looking couple and their beaming daughter. The apartment was simple, tidy and clean. A picture of Jesus hung prominently in the living room. This was another couple from Mosul, Iraq. Although I had only had less than a dozen interviews,... Read more
This post contains some interesting news about the maddening middle east. It’s intriguing, and something I’ve wrestled with for months. I don’t write these words lightly. I would love to hear your reaction, as it has impacted me to the very core. Until recently, the Nineveh Plains of Iraq was home to one of the most concentrated areas of Christians in the Middle East. However, the displacement of more than 200,000 Christians from Mosul, Arbel and Dohuk and other areas on the... Read more
Today it was 60 degrees. This weekend’s snowfall may exceed 10-12 inches. “Will it be the winter of despair or the spring of hope?” asked Charles Dickens. In a thousand different ways in a thousand different times I’ve asked that very question in my heart of hearts. I’m not alone. I’ve had jobs that seemed to be without any hope. I lived through relationships that looked sunk into winter. I’ve listened to the tape in my own mind, reminding me of my shortcomings.... Read more
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