You can’t exist as a human being in isolation Desmond Tutu We in the west have a lot to learn from our African brothers and sisters. One of the strengths of their culture is the value they place on community. In the west, we sometimes put the good of the individual over what’s best for […]
On November 18, 1995, the violinist Itzhak Perlman, came on stage to perform a concert at Lincoln Center in New York City. Getting to his chair is no small task for Itzhak. Struck by polio as a child, he walks with leg braces and a pair of crutches. His routine to reach his chair is […]
One act of charity can have an unimaginable impact on the lives of countless people. One act of charity eventually saved my leg. Charity – n generosity toward others Charity has many faces. It shows up as a helping hand, a cash gift, a listening ear, a deepening friendship, personal sacrifice, the sharing of wisdom […]
The world mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela at the age of 95. He lived his life for others and from an early age, entered the fight for freedom and equality to come to his nation. Mandela has been a leader and example for me as I’ve been learning to navigate my own adversity. Studying […]
Sometimes in life, we find ourselves in situations unplanned, dark and without hope. We feel a lot like one particular donkey who found himself down in his circumstances and fighting for his life. How he responded to his despair and hopelessness is a lesson worth pondering. The Donkey’s Choice One day a farmer’s donkey fell […]
Fear if allowed to dominate, holds us back and paralyzes us from action. If fear warns us of a legitimate threat, it’s our friend. But if fear is unfounded in reality and comes as an emotional disturber of the peace, it’s a different story. What exactly is fear? FEAR – noun a distressing emotion […]
Nelson Mandela tells a story of a hope inspiring visit he had with his daughter while in Robben Island prison. The visit occurred shortly after his daughter Zeni had married into the Swazi royal family to the prince Thumbumuzi. Once married to a member of the Swazi royal family, it gave Zeni diplomatic privileges and […]
While on the Big Island of Hawaii [which explains why you haven’t seen a blog post for a while], we came across a bale of Green Sea Turtles hovering on the ocean’s edge. Seeing these turtles, I was reminded of the dangerous journey new born turtles face when starting out in life. The cycle of […]
The above title is a line in the full length Serenity Prayer. On first glance, you shake your head and say, “How can this be?” But as you dig deeper, you begin to see how true this can be and the hope buried in these words. God grant me the serenity to accept the things […]
Waiting n. – remaining inactive in one place while expecting something. It hit me this week – I’ve done SO MUCH waiting! And I’m not sure I like it! Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go […]