Spiritual Life Turns Truths into Action

Last updated on: January 17, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

There are people who believe that spiritual life is about having good intentions. I know other people who understand spiritual life as focused on what they know. Others feel that spiritual life is in their hearts. For some, spiritual life is essentially letting go of everything else. Some people believe spiritual life happens in special places or buildings. Some people find spiritual life in nature, in the woods, at the beach, or in the mountains. All these things can strengthen spiritual life.... Read more

Who Are You When You Go To Work?

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

Do you become a different person when you go to work? Do you know the person other people meet when they work with you? I know plenty of people who are transformed when they go to work. It is as if they have secret work identities. Some warm, caring people become ruthless competitors when they go to work. Some people who are quiet around their families seem to come to life in a work setting. Working life seems to bring out something in people. Many of us dress differently, speak differently, and act differently at... Read more

The Paradox of Leadership

Last updated on: January 13, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

We think we have a handle on leadership. We read books about leadership. We study it in school. We attend leadership conferences, even hold positions of leadership. People have appreciated our leadership potential for as long as we can remember. We may have challenges in other areas of what we do; we understand leadership. We recognize the qualities that make someone a leader. We know how we expect leaders to act, what we expect them to say and how they look. We have... Read more

Book Review: Fight Back With Joy

Last updated on: January 11, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

Margaret Feinberg is a strong woman, a fighter. I first met Margaret a few years ago when I read one of her books, Scouting the Divine. She wrote about finding deep, sacred truth in everyday experience. She had read scripture texts about herding sheep, the sweetness of honey, new wine. She went looking for spiritual life from shepherds, bee keepers, and winemakers. Her deeper understanding helped open those Biblical stories in new ways. From her strength, Margaret works to share her... Read more

Spiritual Life is Beyond Time

Last updated on: January 10, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

It feels like we are always running out of time. The present rushes into the past, pushing us into the future. We struggle to keep up with the current of time, but are constantly carried along to the next thing. We feel that if we pause to reflect, or to breathe, we will fall behind and miss whatever is next. Fortunately, not all life is bound by time. Even in the fast-paced world we have created for ourselves, spiritual life is not... Read more

Good Working Relationships

Last updated on: January 8, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

We often hear that good working relationships are important. They can help us work more efficiently and effectively; they can make work more enjoyable. That is great in the abstract; it is difficult to be opposed to good working relationships. What about the nuts and bolts of working relationships? Working relationships are a combination of the intentional and the unexpected. Some aspects of working relationships can be predicted, some require deep insight to see. Strong working relationships are based in shared... Read more

There Are No Leadership Playoffs

Last updated on: January 6, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

We live in a culture that has a hard time distinguishing between leadership and sports. Some of the leadership people I know really love sports analogies. We talk about our game plan and our play book. People will say that someone hit a grand slam or completed a marathon negotiation. We compare challenging leadership situations we face to intense athletic competition. We will say this is the Super Bowl, or the bottom of the ninth inning. I have heard people... Read more

Spiritual Life is Fed in Stillness

Last updated on: January 3, 2015 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

It is the beginning of a new year. We have parades and other special events. We stay up to count down until the new year begins. Many of us see a new year like a clean slate, the top of a fresh page. We are intentional about the changes we want to make, and the year spreads out before us. We want to make sure we meet our goals, that we get things right this time. We grit our teeth... Read more

12 Lessons I ReLearned This Year 2014

Last updated on: December 30, 2014 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

Each year, I am reminded of lessons I have learned before. The pieces come together in new ways, with new people, in new places. Here are twelve of the most significant things I learned again this year: 1. Each year, each day, each moment is an opportunity for a fresh start. 2. Leadership is about recognizing and developing potential. My life and work have been transformed by people who saw potential in me. 3. The three essentials of leadership are: Know... Read more

Spiritual Life is Everywhere

Last updated on: December 27, 2014 at 4:40 am By Greg Richardson

We seem to believe that spiritual life is stronger in some places than others. Some people experience churches, or synagogues, or mosques as places of spiritual life. Some of us seek spiritual life among trees in the forest, or in the mountains, or at the shore. For some, spiritual life is about finding our way home. For others, it is about exploring somewhere new. We may make a pilgrimage to a place where many people have recognized spiritual life. There may be places we visit each... Read more