I had lunch yesterday with a young man today who is hurting. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in what he didn’t say. Two days ago, he lost a buddy who died in his sleep, just 28 years young. My friend lost his job. Dismissed with little more than a small severance, after years of loyal service, he lost his dignity, along with his paycheck.And then there’s a writer buddy who has is facing end-of-life issues — with... Read more
It happened to me the other day. I read some of my old performance appraisals and one in particular jumped out. It was from a boss that I clashed with. For nearly a year it was a constant battle of the wills and I was the one that lost because of pride. My work performance crashed – often spectacularly. I was immature and foolish and it’s all right there in the report, in black and white. “Shadows of the Past,”From... Read more
(I as honored to have this post highlighted today over at the High Calling. Please join the conversation over there.) I pulled the tie to my neck. It was cinched just like my dad had taught me. He called it the four-in-hand. I just called it “good.” I took another look at myself in the full-length mirror. No lint on my shoulder. Shoes polished. Hair combed back. Although I had been in the new position for just a few weeks, it... Read more
It seems that my life is often dominated by the broken promises of “More.” I have promised to write more letters, visit more friends, smile at more children. I have purposed in my heart to give more money away and to spend more time at home. Yet most, if not all of these desires are waylaid by the tyranny of the urgent. The important things in life are supplanted by the urgent things. The pressing demands of time and energy... Read more
I am frustrated at all the things I can’t get done. Editing projects. Retiling the kitchen floor. Changing the oil in the car.Fixing the squeaky door to the bathroom.The stack of books that I need to read.The breakfast date I can’t seem to fill. Does your list grow longer instead of shorter? J.C. Schaap, who blogs at Stuff in the Basement, is annoyed at his inability to get everything done at work and home. “Industry is like piety, in a way–you can... Read more
I just want to make a difference. And so do you. In every walk of life, we want to know that our efforts aren’t in vain. If a sculpture leaves his best work on a tree stump in the deep woods, will anyone see it?If a writer leaves a piece of paper in a library will anybody read it?If a painter paints his masterpieces, only to turn the canvas over to cover a drafty windy, what good is it? Like other... Read more
If you were around in the 70’s, you’ll never forgot the movie Jaws, adapted from Peter Benchley’s book. Let’s just say it wasn’t beach reading. The premise was simple. A eastern seaboard resort town. Families on vacation. Sun. Laughter. Swimming. And a killer shark. Much of the movie centered on the coverup by the city officials who didn’t want a little thing like killer sharks ruining their summer tourism season. Who can forget Amity Mayor Vaughn, at a press conference, who said this,... Read more
I was just ten, but I vividly remember Coach Dan. I never cared for him and I think the feeling was mutual. Unlike his superstar son, I was slow footed and less than athletic. I was a little joker. He was all business. For me, it was just Little League, a chance to play ball with my friends and mimic my heroes. For him, it was life. Although I was bigger and stronger than many of the other kids, I just... Read more
At one point in nearly every life, comes a time when you feel like you’ve lost everything. And that’s not such a bad place to be. I’ll never forget that day when the wheels came off my shiny car speeding down the freeway to happiness. Standing on the side of the road, alone, all of my successes suddenly were empty, hollow. Nothing really mattered — except what mattered. Friends? Most just dropped away in silence, not knowing what to say. Family? They... Read more
This modern age, full of innovation, technology and promise is perhaps best known by its brokenness. Marriages split with increased regularity, families are in upheaval and society is in disarray. Watch daytime television for all the evidence you need. Tune in the evening news for further confirmation. And then look in your own heart to hear your own pain. Quite frankly, we are a mess. When parents make bad choices, and that’s the model children have, there’s a good chance that... Read more
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