We don’t like to think about death. This can be especially true as we grow older and begin to realize we only have a finite amount of time left on Earth. So when you’re forced to look death in the face every day, it can be a jarring experience. Or depending on your perspective, an invigorating one. I fall into the latter category. The picture at the top of this page is the view I woke up to every morning... Read more
There’s a curious story in the Bible that centers around two of Jesus’ closest friends, Mary and Martha. The two sisters had a special relationship with Jesus. As the Gospel of John 11:5 states, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” They loved Jesus as well, and as you may know, there’s a backstory. Mary and Martha believed that Jesus was responsible for bringing their brother Lazarus back from the dead. Earlier in the Gospel of John, we are told... Read more
Do you pray? If yes, how often? And what are you praying for? A recent survey by the spirituality site Skylight called The National Day of Prayer Study, showed that Americans are still praying—in surprisingly high numbers. Almost half of Americans say they pray on a regular basis. And that number increases to 65% when people were asked if they connect with a higher power regularly (at least a few times a week) through prayer, meditation, mindfulness, or reciting affirmations.... Read more
I fell into something that everyone is looking for. I had no idea it was there. All of my desires were fulfilled; all my mysteries dropped away; all my sicknesses disappeared. ~Lester Levenson So begins the story of the late Lester Levenson, a regular guy from Elizabeth, New Jersey who—as he entered middle-age—suddenly attained “spiritual enlightenment.” In his book No Attachments No Aversions: The Autobiography of a Master, Levenson claims to have found “the joy everyone in the world is... Read more
Who fills the void when leaders don’t lead, when those in positions of power and responsibility seem more interested in their own narrow self-interests than the greater good? You and me, of course. It may be our time to step up and display the moral and emotional qualities, such as honesty, kindness, and empathy, that are features of people of character. Why is character important? Because it sets the tone for those around us, whether they be your co-workers, your... Read more
In the Apple TV show The Reluctant Traveler, host Eugene Levy explores the people, places, and cultures of several unique locations around the world. In the first episode, he “reluctantly” travels to northern Finland, home to “the happiest people in the world.” Levy, often comically, tries his hand at ice fishing, reindeer feeding, and husky sledding. He experiences the beauty of the aurora borealis (aka the northern lights). It’s all in an attempt to uncover what the Fins define as... Read more
We just passed the 25th anniversary of the release of one of my all-time favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. The lead character is a guy named Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski and is played by the actor Jeff Bridges. It’s a crazy story of mistaken identity and the mayhem that ensues once The Dude tries to clear his name—and get his precious soiled rug replaced. While Bridges has acted in dozens of roles over his storied career and won a Best Actor Academy... Read more
How busy is your life? Do you ever find the time to stop and smell the roses, or at least your morning cup of coffee? Or is your life a constant whir of activity, moving from one work responsibility or life chore or social interaction to the next? Whether you work from home or in a bustling restaurant, live alone or with a large extended family, we all need to find moments of solitude. These are periods where we unplug... Read more
On a chilly winter night in 1933, Bill Wilson hit rock bottom. A New York City-based traveling businessman, Wilson had gone on a drinking binge. For the fourth time, he was committed to a hospital on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He was treated with a concoction of drugs. Only this time was different. Wilson had what he termed “a white light experience.” In his words: “I found myself crying out, “If there is a God, let Him show Himself. I... Read more
We seem so frightened today of being alone that we never let it happen. We choke the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place. ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh I can recall an acquaintance once remarking that each of us is troubled by something and it’s often the dominant thought in our head. It could... Read more
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