I know people in positions of responsibility who are eager to reach the end of this year. The last twelve months have been filled with challenges, obstacles, and fear for them. They are straining to continue accomplishing their goals with fewer and fewer resources. They feel their strength draining away. Their leadership is filled with stress and anxiety. The end of this year has, at times, been a distant goal. It has felt as though each day, each hour, were a... Read more
Advent is a gift to us when hope is in short supply. Each year as the nights grow darker and colder, we receive the gift of a new Advent. We can see light shining in the darkness which the darkness cannot overcome. Advent reminds us that even the darkest night is followed by the hope of a new dawn. When we are frustrated and tired, staggering with heavy burdens, Advent is about hope. Advent is a liturgical season which teaches us lessons about patience and persistence. Advent... Read more
In two weeks, we will be in a new week, a new month, a new year. Many of us are working hard to accomplish goals we set for this year before it ends. Some of us are even trying to get a head start on our goals for next year. It is helpful for us to know where we are going and when we hope to get there. What we do grows out of who we are. It is critical that... Read more
I enjoy watching orchestras. There are times when I get distracted from the music, watching how the musicians work together. I wonder about the tensions between the sections. How do the brass instrumentalists get along with those playing woodwinds? Do the violinists even talk to the percussionists? What are the differences that make world class orchestras better than the ones that are very good? For me, an orchestra is a great example of a group in which all the members are leaders. Each member... Read more
Spiritual life often catches us by surprise. We are following our routine, minding our own business, when something captures our attention. It may be a particular person, a work of art, or a striking sunset. It may be scenery, an enticing aroma, music that stirs our heart, or something truly delicious. We realize there is more to life than we had experienced the moment before. The more we prepare ourselves for these experiences of depth, the more open we are to receive... Read more
I live in a culture based in the belief that work is good. Our common story is about people finding opportunities to apply themselves, work hard, and earn rewards. My culture has shaped me and my expectations through my entire life. We are united by the belief that we attract people who want to be able to earn their way forward. We see ourselves as the Land of Opportunity. We share the American Dream. We take pride in what we do. Our... Read more
Each of us suffers in our own unique way. We may suffer because of how we are treated by other people, or how we see ourselves. Our suffering may be intimately personal, or shared through our family or culture or nation. Each of us searches for someone who will ease our suffering and pain. Suffering is not fair, and we want someone to give us justice. We live in times when suffering is shared instantly around the world. Governments, faith communities, families... Read more
We live in a time which does not do anticipation well. We want our gratification, and we want it now. We mash everything together into “holiday” season. We do not want to wait the few weeks from the end of October to the end of December. We create new ways to “celebrate” immediately, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now Black Friday begins on Wednesday or Thursday; Cyber Monday has become Cyber Week. My church is countercultural. We celebrate Advent, a month-long... Read more
We are in the final month of the year. Work we have put off and procrastinated about looms in front of us. Holidays, travel, and other commitments squeeze the time and attention we can spend on work. We may feel pressured, stressed that we seem not to have accomplished what we set out to do this year. We may be discouraged that we have not invested this year as wisely as we hoped we would. We may feel overwhelmed at what... Read more
Where I live, we are in the middle of leftover season. It began with leftover candy about a month ago, then hit full stride last week. We will be riding waves of party leftovers for the next few weeks, when the tide really hits. There are things I appreciate about leftovers, and things I do not. The leftovers I like tend to disappear first, leaving the lingering flavors I could probably do without. I prefer the parts of the meal I prepare, but get stuck... Read more
Strategic Monk
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