I suffer from shiny object syndrome (SOS). I once fell down a flight of stairs because I was fidgeting with a tight buttonhole on my shirt and missed a step. And then there was the time I backed into a street light because I was looking at gleaming new car that was parked next to me. The Internet is a great place for Shiny objects. I click here. And then a blue click here appears. “Oh, pretty!”And then before you know... Read more
(I am honored to have the following featured at High Calling Blogs, found here.) It was impossible to ignore. The shrill siren blasted through the hallways and the strobe lights flashed in a dizzying display. The dreaded fire drill. Why today of all days? I was just minutes from finishing my project. Why now? I decided to take the coward’s path. I turned off my office lights and closed the door to hide from the safety captain as he swept... Read more
Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. — Victor Hugo Read more
I have two options to live my life. The first is to live it by the clock. I manage and measure my life by the externals like:* Commitments* Appointments* Schedule* Goals* Activities Another option is to live life by the compass, that is, to lead my life by such internal values like:* Calling* Vision* Values* Mission Any advice on how I can morph from living life from the clock to living life by the compass? Comment here. Please, share with a friend if... Read more
my time at the carwash pumping quarters incould neer get clean Read more
To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given the chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy. As everyone else, I love to dunk my crust in it. But alone, it is not a diet designed to keep body and soul together. — Bette Davis, The Lonely Life, 1962 Read more
I sometimes wish that I could find a DeLorean, dump some trash in the fuel tank,and transport to the past. There, I would undo some things. I would say things differently, walk more carefully, and show a little more compassion. Truth is, I cannot untie the complicated knot that I’ve tied.So, all I have left is grace. My friend and High Calling editor LL Barkat, said this last night, “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.... Read more
If you just take a second to look, you’ll see wonder. In order to fully appreciate the nature of the Creator, we need to become students of His creation. We need to take joy in the intricate details of the world around us We need to see the fashion of the rocks, plants, trees and hills around us. Despite man’s continued use of the planet, beauty is all around us if only we will open our eyes to it. To... Read more
USA Today ran an interesting opinion piece a couple of years ago on faith in the workplace. The editorial begins like this: “You don’t have to leave your beliefs at home. In fact, some employers see the value of integrating religion and work in meaningful ways.” Bold stuff from the mainstream press. In fact, the editorial goes on to say “religious people need to practice their faith in the workplace if they are going to pursue their vocations with integrity.” Ah, here... Read more
I admit as a boy, sneaking off to read Mad magazine. I was Alfred E. Neuman, and he was me. Nerdy. Loveable. And a thoughtful realist. His mantra, “What? Me worry?” became my personal answer to all of life’s problems. Homework. Parents. Siblings. Friends. None of that stuff mattered. I was the teflon kid. Of course, that’s what I wanted everyone to believe. The truth is, I worried. And I still do. I justify it as “concern” or better yet,... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In