One of the leaders at my son’s care facility likes to share a quote from the film, Patch Adams. The film stars Robin Williams. The quote reads, “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.” (Here is a link to the video clip including the quote) This post is about applying this mindset to every sphere of life, including healthcare. I find that healthcare workers who take this approach... Read more
My wife Mariko and I celebrated 33 years of marriage Friday. I told our adult son Christopher at his adult care facility in the afternoon that Mom and I were celebrating our 33rd anniversary. Christopher suddenly made a few interesting gestures, which I assumed were in response to what I shared. After visiting with Christopher for some time, I headed home to pick up my wife and head out to dinner. Over dinner, my wife and I reflected on all... Read more
None of us wants to be treated as a thing. But we struggle to treat one another as persons. It is very difficult to discern what a person is when what we do, what we wear, what we own, and in some cases, who we own, generates our sense of value rather than who we are. We live in what Pope Francis referred to as a “throwaway culture.” A throwaway culture cheapens human persons as tools to use or commodities... Read more
How close is cleanliness to godliness? What kind of cleanliness matters most when considering godliness? This is the subject of my new post. According to Christianity.com, “John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, may have been the originator of the slogan ‘cleanliness is next to godliness.’ In 1791, he referenced the phrase in one of his sermons as we use it today. Wesley wrote, ‘Slovenliness is no part of religion. Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.’” I’m a big fan of Mr. Wesley,... Read more
True freedom or liberty is not easy to achieve. It is a work in progress. On this Fourth of July weekend, I reflect upon the importance of not taking freedom for granted and working hard to attain it nationally and interpersonally. Let’s start with our nation’s longstanding pursuit of democratic freedom. In his Gettysburg address, President Abraham Lincoln sought to honor the fallen on both sides of the conflict in the Civil War: “It is for us the living, rather,... Read more
Summer is in full swing. Countless people are taking vacations or planning trips that have long been on their bucket lists. New research building on behavioral economics adds to the import of such trips, as we are encouraged to “buy experiences, not things.” “Moment-to-moment experiences” constitute happiness, according to Matthew Killingsworth. In no way do I wish to discourage people from planning or going on such trips. I just know my wife and I can’t plan them, that is, not... Read more
Today, our country celebrates Father’s Day. Tomorrow, it celebrates Juneteenth. The Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 4 bears import for how followers of Jesus might look at both days in terms of spiritual import. We need to live as free people. Break the chains. Paul writes, “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees... Read more
Today is Trinity Sunday. This post reflects upon the import of the Trinity as divine love for our various relationships, including those who fail to match our expectations or aspirations for themselves. The Trinity’s love never fails. I wonder how often people think of Trinity Sunday and reflect immediately on the import of God as Trinity for true love. All too often, well-meaning individuals use images from nature or math to try and make clear what the Trinity is. “The... Read more
My son Christopher’s catastrophic brain injury over two years ago left a giant size hole in my family’s collective heart. It’s really hard to patch it up when various ordeals keep tearing away the scab and create an open wound. But it is this very hole through which the Holy Spirit can flow to bring healing and anointing in various ways. On Pentecost Sunday, I call to mind the “Holy Ghost Hole” found in medieval church architecture. You can find... Read more
In this post, I reflect upon the importance of secure attachment and how it provides the necessary relational and spiritual nutrition for one’s life. I will define the psychological concept of secure attachment shortly. But I want to begin with a short account of what got me to thinking about this theme over the weekend. Later, I will account for the biblical emphasis on secure attachment that God’s love provides. This past Friday morning, I received a call from my... Read more
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